Optical determination of glucose utilizing boronic acid adducts

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns an improved optical method and optical sensing device for determining the levels of polyhydroxyl-substituted organic molecules in vitro and/or in vivo in aqueous media. The range of detection is between about 400 and 800 nm. In particular, a sensory devise is implemented in a mammal to determine sugar levels. Specifically, a dye is combined with a conjugated nitrogen-containing heterocyclic aromatic boronic acid-substituted bis-onium compound in the presence of a sugar, such as fructose or glucose. The viologens are preferred as the aromatic conjugated nitrogen-containing boronic acid substituted compounds. The method is useful to determine sugar levels in a human being.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/296,898, filed Dec. 7, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,470,420, which inturn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/456,895, filed Jun.5, 2003 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S.application Ser. No. 09/731,323, filed Dec. 5, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.6,627,177, issued Sep. 30, 2003, which preceding applications are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an improved optical method and/or sensor forpolyhydroxy substituted organic molecules that measure the concentrationof these molecules in aqueous or organic media. In one application, themethod and sensor monitor the concentration of sugars, i.e. glucose orfructose, in aqueous solution in vitro. In particular, the method andsensor monitor the concentration of sugars, i.e. glucose or fructose, inaqueous solution in vivo. The determination of glucose in fluids in vivoand in vitro—is of importance. The in vivo sensing device is implantedin a human being. Some of the novel components of the optical method anddevice are also considered to be inventions in their own right.

2. Description of Related Art

There has been an ongoing effort over many years to use fluorescencetechniques to measure polyhydroxyl compound (e.g. glucose)concentrations in body fluids. Although the term “glucose” is usedherein below, it is to be understood that the concentration of mostpolyhydroxyl-containing organic compounds (carbohydrates, 1,2-diols,1,3-diols and the like) in a solution are determined. But in spite ofthe intense effort, no practical system has been developed andcommercialized for in vivo monitoring. Several attempts have been madeto detect glucose by fluorescence using dyes to which a boronic acidgroup has been attached. Boronic acids are known to bind sugarsreversibly. When the boronic acid functional dye binds to a sugar, theproperties of the dye are affected. These changes have been used in thepast to measure sugar concentration.

One use of this approach to a glucose sensor was reported by Russell,U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,833 (See also Russell & Zepp, U.S. Pat. No.5,512,246) which disclosed the use of a boronic acid functionalized dyethat binds to glucose and generates a signal dependent on glucoseconcentration. James et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,770 used the sameprinciple but combined a fluorescent dye, an amine quenchingfunctionality, and a boronic acid in a single complex moiety, thefluorescence emission from which varies with extent of glucose binding.Van Antwerp et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,954 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,984combined features of the previously cited references and also taughtfabrication of a device that is purported to be implantable. A. E.Colvin, Jr. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,766 disclosed optical-based sensingdevices, especially for in-situ sensing in humans.

Patents of interest include but are not limited to:

-   -   Russell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,833 (1992)    -   James et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,770 (1996)    -   Russell & Zepp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,246 (1996)    -   Van Antwerp et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,954 (1999)    -   Van Antwerp and Mastrototaro, U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,984 (2000)

Related U.S. patents of interest include:

-   -   Wolfbeis et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,518 (1986)    -   Gallop & Paz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,817 (1989)    -   Yafuso & Hui, U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,738 (1989)    -   Yafuso & Hui, U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,338 (1989)    -   Saaski et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,491 (1991)    -   Lanier et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,676 (1992)    -   Wolfbeis et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,858 (1993)    -   Colvin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,313 (1996)    -   Sundrehagen et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,364 (1997)    -   James et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,238 (1998)    -   Siegmund et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,915 (1998)    -   Bamard & Rouilly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,126 (1998)    -   Colvin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,351 (1999)    -   Alder et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,612 (1999)    -   Arnold et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,637 (2000)    -   Song et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,312 (2000)    -   Kimball et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,799 (2000)    -   Clark et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,194 (2000)    -   Schultz, U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,522 (2001)    -   Walt, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,807 (2001)    -   Colvin U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,266 (2001)    -   Van Antwerp, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,540 (2001)

Related articles and publications of interest include:

-   -   Yoon & Czarnik, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. (1992) 114, 5874-5875    -   James, Linnane, & Shinkai, Chem. Commun. (1996), 281-288    -   Suenaga et al, Tetrahedron Letters (1995), 36, 4825-4828    -   Eggert et al, J. Org. Chem. (1999), 64, 3846-3852    -   Wolfbeis et al, Analytica Chimica Acta (1995), 304, 165-170    -   Wang et al, Organic Letters (1999), 1, 1209-1212    -   Chen et al, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (1999), 96, 12287-12292    -   P. D. Hale et al, Analytica Chimica Acta (1999), 248, 155-161    -   A. E. Colvin, Jr. et al, Johns Hopkins Technical Digest, Vol.        12, #17, p. 378 (1996)    -   Cappucio, et al., J. Fluorescence, 2004, 14, 521-533.    -   Camara et al., Tetrahedron Letters, 2002, 43, 1139-141.    -   Suri, et al., Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed., 2003, 42, 5857-5859.    -   Suri, et al., Langmuir, 2003, 19, 5145-5152.

References of a general nature include:

-   -   A. W. Czarnik (ed), Fluorescent Chemosensors for Ion and        Molecule Recognition, ACS Washington, D.C. 1992.    -   F. W. Scheller et al (eds), Frontiers in Biosensorics I        Fundamental Aspects, Birkhauser Verlag, Basel 1997.    -   J. R. Lakowicz, Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy. 2nd ed.        Kluwer    -   Academics/Plenum Publishers, New York, N.Y. (1999).    -   Haugland, R. P. Handbook of Fluorescent Probes and Research        Chemicals 6^(th) ed. Molecular Probes Inc. Eugene, Oreg. (1996).    -   Gunter Wulff, et al., “Molecular Imprinting for the Preparation        of Enzyme Analogous Polymers”, pp. 10-28 in R. A. Bartsch and M.        Maeda (eds) Molecular and Ionic Recognition with Imprinted        Polymers. ACS Symposium 703 American Chemical Society 1998.        Washington, D.C.    -   H. Murakami, et al, “Glucose Detection by Electrochemical        Methods Using a Viologen Boronic Acid Derivative”, Chem. Letters        (Japan), (2000) (8) p. 940-1.

Some references concerning the technology of the quantum dots include:

-   -   D. Ishii, et al., Nature 2003, 423, 628-632.    -   D. Larson, et al., Science 2003, 300, 1434-1436.    -   W. C. Chan, et al., Current Opinion in Biotechnology 2002, 13,        40-46.    -   W. C. Chan, et al., Science 1998, 281, 2016-2018.    -   C. Niemeyer, Angewandte Chemic-International Edition 2001, 40,        4128-4158.    -   M. Bruchez, et al., Science 1998, 28 I, 2013-2016.    -   S. L. Dgunov, et al., Journal of Physical Chemistry A 1995, 102,        5652-5653.    -   Y. Nosabi, et al., J Phys Chem 1988, 92, 255-256.    -   D. Duonghong, J. Am. Chem Soc, 198 L 103, 4685-4690.    -   C. Landes, et al., Journal of Physical Chemistry 11 2001, 105.        29X!-29&6.    -   K. M. Gattas-Asfina et al., Immobilization of Quantum Dots in        the Photo Crosslinked Poly(ethylene glycol)-based Hydrogel, J.        Phys. Chem. B, 2003, 104, 10464-69.

All patents, articles, references, standards and the like cited in thisapplication are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

All of these prior art sensors are deficient in one or more aspects,such as operability under physiological conditions, stability ofoperation, simplicity of design, reliability, implantability, andsensitivity. The present invention overcomes these deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This present invention concerns an optical method and an optical devicefor determining the concentration of polyhydroxyl compounds in aqueousmedia, especially for determining in vivo, especially sugars such asglucose or fructose, in physiological media. These compounds, theanalytes, are in a system with a fluorescence sensing device comprisedof a light source, a detector, and the active components including afluorophore D (fluorescent dye and the like), a quencher and an optionalpolymer matrix M. Some components are inventions in their own right.When excited by light of appropriate wave length, the fluorophore emitslight (fluoresces). The intensity of the light is dependent on theextent of quenching. The fluorophore and quencher Q are preferablyindependent entities, optionally they are immobilized in or covalentlyattached to a polymeric matrix which is permeable to or in contact withthe compounds of interest to be detected and quantified.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a class of fluorescencequenching compounds that are responsive to the presence of polyhydroxylcompounds such as glucose in aqueous media at or near physiological pH.In other words, the quenching efficiency is controlled by theconcentration of these compounds in the medium. The quencher iscomprised of a viologen substituted with at least one boronic acid groupwherein the adduct is immobilized in or covalently bonded to a polymer.The quencher, dye and polymer may also be covalently bonded to eachother.

The combination of boronic acid and viologen, and the resultant effecton viologen properties are important embodiments of the presentinvention.

In another aspect, the present invention is a class of polymericfluorescent dyes which are susceptible to quenching by theviologen/boronic acid adduct. Useful dyes include pyranine derivatives(e.g. hydroxypyrene trisulfonamide derivatives and the like) andderivatives of aminopyrene trisulfonic acid. (See FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and17), In one embodiment, the dye is comprised of a hydroxypyrenetrisulfonamide moiety bonded to a polymer. Converting sulfonic acidgroups to sulfonamide groups shifts the pKa of pyranine into a rangemore suitable for measurement at physiological pH. This conversion alsoshifts the absorbance of the dye to longer wavelengths thereby allowingit to be more efficiently excited by light from a blue LED, which is apreferred light source for an implanted sensor. These derivatives aretypically prepared by reacting a trisulfonyl chloride intermediatewith 1) a polyamine, 2) an amine functional ethylenically unsaturatedmonomer, which adduct is subsequently polymerized, 3) or an aminefunctional polymer. In one embodiment, the dye is a fully substitutedderivative having no residual free sulfonic acid groups on the pyrenering.

In another aspect, the present invention is a composite water-compatiblepolymer matrix, preferably a hydrogel, which comprises the dye andquencher moieties. The matrix is a water-swellable copolymer, preferablycrosslinked, to which the dye and quencher moieties are covalentlybonded by a linking group L. In one embodiment, the matrix is aninterpenetrating polymer network (IPN) with the dye incorporated in onepolymer network and the quencher in the other polymer network. Inanother embodiment, the matrix is a semi-IPN wherein the dye componentis a high molecular weight water-soluble or dispersible polymer trappedin a crosslinked network comprised of quencher monomer and suitablehydrophilic comonomers. Optionally, the quencher may be in thewater-compatible or dispersible component and the dye within thenetwork. Further both dye and quencher may be separately incorporated inwater-soluble or dispersible polymers wherein dye and quencher are bothtrapped in an inert polymer matrix. Optionally, the components areseparated from the analyte solution by a membrane which is impermeableto the components, but permeable to the analyte. Optionally, the matrixis molecularly imprinted to favor association between dye and quencher,and to enhance selectivity for specific sugars, e.g. glucose, over otherpolyhydroxy compounds. The preferred method for enhancing interactionbetween dye and quencher is to functionalize the dye moiety withnegatively charged groups such as carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphonate,and phosphate.

In another aspect, the present invention concerns a device for measuringthe concentration of glucose in vivo by means of an optical sensor. Thespecific device is comprised of a visible light source, preferably ablue LED light source, a photodetector, a light conduit (optical waveguide) such as an optical fiber assembly, and a water-insoluble polymermatrix comprised of a fluorophore susceptible to quenching by aviologen, a viologen/boronic acid quencher, and a glucose permeablepolymer, wherein the matrix is in contact with said conduit and with themedium containing the analyte.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method foroptically determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample, whichmethod comprises:

-   -   contacting the analyte sensor described herein with the sample;    -   applying light to the sensor;    -   detecting emitted light; and    -   determining the concentration of the analyte.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a device foroptically determining an analyte concentration, which device comprises:

an analyte permeable component;

a fluorophore associated with the analyte permeable component andconfigured to absorb light at a first wavelength and emit light at asecond wavelength;

a quencher associated with the analyte permeable component andconfigured to modify the light emitted by the fluorophore by an amountrelated to the analyte concentration, wherein the quencher comprises aboronic acid substituted viologen;

a light source; and

a detector. Preferably the fluorophore is capable of being quenched byviologen, and the fluorophore and quencher are in close proximity andeach is associated with or immobilized by the analyte permeablecomponent.

In another embodiment the present invention relates to an optical methodfor the in vivo detection of polyhydroxyl-substituted organic moleculesas the analyte between about 400 and 800 nm, preferably 430 to 800 nmdetection, which method comprises:

-   -   A. obtaining a fluorophore dye D, which is compatible with the        analyte solution, wherein D is selected from:    -   (a) D¹ which is a fluorophore dye having the properties of    -   i. A fluorophore,    -   ii. An excitation in the range greater than 400 nm and less than        800 nm,    -   iii. Resistant to photobleaching under the conditions of        analysis,    -   iv. A Stokes shift of about or greater than 30 nm,    -   v. Compatibility with said analyte solution, and wherein said    -   vi. Dye D¹ is quenched by methyl viologen to produce an        experimentally determined apparent Stern-Volmer quenching        constant (Ksv) greater than or equal to 50,    -   wherein the fluorophore dye D¹ which is neutral or negatively        charged is:    -   (i) a discrete compound having a molecular weight of 1,000        daltons or greater, with the proviso that if the dye is        substituted with negatively charged groups the molecular weight        is 500 daltons or greater;    -   (ii) a pendant group or chain unit in a water-soluble or        dispersible polymer having a molecular weight greater than about        10,000 daltons, and    -   optionally said polymer is non-covalently associated with a        water-insoluble polymer matrix M¹ and is physically immobilized        within said polymer matrix M¹ wherein said polymer matrix M¹ is        permeable to or in contact with said analyte solution; and    -   optionally where D¹ is negatively charged and the polymer is        immobilized as a complex with a cationic water-soluble polymer,        said complex formed is permeable to or in contact with said        analyte solution;    -   (b) D² is a fluorophore dye having the properties of    -   i. A fluorophore,    -   ii. An excitation in the range greater than 400 nm and less than        800,    -   iii. A Stokes shift of about or greater than 30 nm,    -   iv. Resistant to photobleaching under the conditions of        analyses,    -   v. Compatibility in the analyte solution, and wherein    -   vi. Said Dye D¹ is quenched by methyl viologen to produce an        apparent Stern-Volmer quenching constant (Ksv) greater than or        equal to 50, wherein D1 is covalently bonded to an insoluble        polymer matrix M¹ wherein said polymer matrix M¹ is permeable to        or in contact with said analyte; wherein said fluorophore dye D¹        is a part of the structure: M¹-L¹-D² with the proviso that D²        which is polyfunctional is bonded to matrix M¹ at one, two or        three sites;    -   L¹ is a hydrolytically stable covalent linking group selected        from the group consisting of a direct bond, lower alkylene        having 1 to 8 carbon atoms optionally ten-ninated with or        including one or more divalent connecting groups selected from        sulfonamide, amide, ester, ether, sulfide, sulfone, phenylene,        urethane, urea, and amine, and    -   B. Combining with a boronic acid-containing quencher moiety Q,        wherein Q is comprised of a conjugated nitrogen-containing        heterocyclic, aromatic bis-onium salt having the properties of        compatibility in said analyte solution and produces a detectable        change in the emission of the dye in the presence of said        analyte, selected from:    -   (i) quencher Q¹ which is a discrete compound having a molecular        weight of about 400 daltons or greater or is a pendant group or        a chain unit in a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer        having a molecular weight greater than 10,000 daltons and said        polymer optionally is non-covalently associated with the        optional polymer matrix M¹ when present, and is physically        immobilized in said polymer matrix, or optionally said polymer        is immobilized as a complex with a negatively charged        water-soluble polymer, or    -   (ii) quencher Q² which is covalently bonded by linking group L²        to M¹ or to a second water insoluble polymer matrix M² producing        M²-L²-Q² wherein L² is selected from the group consisting of a        direct bond, a lower alkylene having 1 to 8 carbon atoms        optionally terminated with or including one or more divalent        connecting groups selected from sulfonamide, amide, quaternary        ammonium, pyridinium, ester, ether, sulfide, sulfone, phenylene,        urea, thiourea, and urethane, or amine, wherein said quencher Q¹        or Q² is mixed at a molecular level with said fluorophore dye D¹        or D², and with the proviso that Q² when polyfunctional is        linked to the matrix M² at one or two sites,    -   C. contacting a physiological fluid which contains analyte, a        dye and a quenched in vivo with an excitation light source        coupled with a detector;    -   D. producing a detectable and quantifiable signal in the range        of about 400 to 800 nm; and    -   E. determining the concentration of said        polyhydroxyl-substituted analyte in said physiological fluid.

In another embodiment, the invention is a device which incorporates thecomponents listed above which work together to determine the analyte.

In the present invention, the term “polymer” to which D¹ and D² areattached excludes those polymers which react or combine with dihydroxycompounds. The useful polymers may be anionic, cationic or non-ionic,and are hydrolytically stable and compatible with in vivo fluid.

In one aspect, this invention is a class of fluorescence quenchingcompounds that are responsive to the presence of poly hydroxy compoundssuch as glucose in aqueous media; i.e., the quenching efficiency iscontrolled by the concentration of said compounds in the medium. Thefluorophore may be fluorescent organic dye, a fluorescent organometalliccompound or metal chelate, a fluorescent conjugated polymer, afluorescent quantum dot or nanoparticle or combinations. When saidquenchers are combined with a fluorophore, they are useful for measuringthe concentration of glucose in physiological fluid, such as blood. Thequencher is comprised of a viologen substituted with two or more boronicacid groups. In one embodiment, the quencher is comprised of a viologenderived from 3,3′-dipyridyl substituted on the nitrogens with orthobenzyl boronic acid groups, said adduct optionally containing one ormore additional cationic groups, said adduct preferably being covalentlybonded to a polymer. The receptor that provides glucose recognition isan aromatic boronic acid. The boronic acid of this invention is bondedto a viologen and reacts reversibly with glucose in blood or other bodyfluids, in the pH range of about 6.8 to 7.8 and at body temperature toform boronate esters, the extent of reaction being related to glucoseconcentration in the medium, over the concentration range from about 50to greater than 400 mg/dl. Preferably, two or more boronic acid groupsare attached to the viologen molecule and spaced to allow cooperativebinding to glucose. The fluorophore and quencher are incorporated into ahydrogel or are confined by a membrane sufficiently permeable to glucoseto allow equilibrium to be established in less than 10 minutes. Theviologen-boronic acid moiety can be a unit in the polymer backbone or apendant group on the polymer chain. Optionally, it can be attached to asurface; e.g. as a self-assembled monolayer or multilayer. In anotheraspect, this invention is a polymer matrix, preferably a hydrogel, whichcomprises the fluorophore and quencher moieties. The matrix is a watersoluble or swellable copolymer, preferably crosslinked, to which thefluorophore and quencher moieties are covalently bonded; more preferablythe matrix is an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) with thefluorophore incorporated in one polymer network and the quencher in theother. Optionally, the matrix is molecularly imprinted to favorassociation between fluorophore and quencher, and to enhance selectivityfor glucose over other poly hydroxy compounds. Monomers useful formaking said matrix include hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxy ethylacrylate, acrylamide, and N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, and the like.Atypical synthesis of the viologen and the sensing polymer and ademonstration of glucose sensing is provided herein.

In another aspect, this invention is a device for measuring theconcentration of glucose in blood in vivo, said device being comprisedof an LED light source, a photodetector, a light conduit such as anoptical fiber, and a polymer matrix comprised of a fluorophoresusceptible to quenching by a viologen, an ortho benzyl boronic acidsubstituted viologen quencher, and a glucose permeable polymer, saidmatrix being in contact with said conduit and with the medium containingthe analyte. Typically said sensor is incorporated into a catheter forinsertion into a blood vessel.

In another aspect of the method, the Dye D¹ is selected from a discretemolecule or polymer of pyranine derivatives having the structure of:

where R¹, R² and R³ are each —NH—CH₂—CH₂(—O—CH₂—CH₂)_(n)—X¹;

wherein X¹ is selected from —CH₂—OCH₃, —CO₂H, —CONH₂, —SO₃H, or —NH₂;

and n is between about 70 and 10,000, and preferably between 100 and1,000.

In another aspect of the method, the Dye D¹ or D² is prepared frompyranine derivatives having the structure of:

or from a dye monomer selected from the group consisting of:

-   where R⁴=—H, and-   R⁵ is selected from: —R⁶—NH—(C═O)—(C═CH₂)—R⁷,    —R⁶—O—(C═O)—(C═CH₂)—R⁷, —CH₂—C₆H₄—CH═CH₂— or —CH₂—CH═CH₂—-   where in R⁶ is a lower alkylene of 2 to 6 carbons and R⁷=—H, or —CH₃-   where Z is a blocking group that is removed by hydrolysis selected    from:    —(C═O)—R⁸—Y-   where R¹ is a lower alkylene of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and-   Y is selected from —H, —OH, —CO₂H, —SO₃H, —(C═O)—NH—R⁹, or —CO₂—R⁹    where-   R⁹ is a lower alkylene of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Preferably a dye moiety D¹ as a discrete compound or a pendant group isselected from:

-   where R¹⁸ is —H or L³-A where L³ is selected from L² above and A is    selected from —COOH and —SO₃H; and-   R¹⁹ is —H or is selected from R⁵ above with the proviso that when    the dye is D² at least one of R¹⁸ or R¹⁹ is a polymerizable group    and each sulfonamide group is substituted with one —H.

In another aspect, Q¹ is a discrete compound with a molecular weight(MW) at least twice the MW of the analyte which is water soluble ordispersible having at least one boronic acid substituent wherein saidcompound is isolated from the body by a semi-permeable membrane.Preferably Q¹ as a discrete compound contains two boronic acidsubstituents.

In another aspect the quencher Q¹ is selected from:

with the proviso that for above structure no ortho derivatives areincluded,and from:

wherein the boronic acid groups are in the meta- or para-positions.

In another aspect of the method, the quencher Q¹ or Q² is prepared froma quencher precursor selected from the group consisting of o-, m-, andp-boronic acids:

where (V)²⁺ is a nitrogen containing conjugated heterocyclic aromaticgroup selected from isomers of dipyridyls, dipyridyl ethylenes,dipyridyl phenylenes, phenanthrolines, or diazafluorenes; wherein thetwo nitrogen atoms are each in a different aromatic ring and thenitrogens are in all positions capable of forming an onium salt andwhere Z¹ or Z² is a substituent on nitrogen and is either apolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group selected from:

-   -   (i) —R¹⁰—CO₂—C(R¹¹)═CH₂, —R¹⁰—NH—(C═O)—C(R²)═CH₂, or        —CH₂—C₆H₄—CH═CH₂, here R¹⁰ is a lower alkylene or        hydroxyalkylene of 2 to 6 carbon atoms and where R¹¹=—H or —CH₃;        or    -   (ii) a coupling group selected from: —R¹²-Z³        -   where R¹² is —CH₂C₆H₄— or alkylene of 2 to 6 carbon atoms            and        -   Z³ is —OH, —SH, —CO₂H, or —NH₂.

Q¹ is a discrete compound or a pendant group or a chain unit (linear orbranched) of a water-soluble or dispersible polymer. The insolublepolymer matrix M¹-L²-Q² is preferably a crosslinked network polymer.

In another aspect, Q¹ or Q² is prepared from a precursor selected from:

where V³ and Z⁴ or Z⁵ are 2, 3 or 4-(CH═CH₂)-pyridinium;—N—(CH₂)_(w)—O(C═O)C(CH₃)═CH₂); —O—(CH₂)_(w), —O—CH₂—(CH═CH₂);—O—(CH₂)_(w)—O—(C═O)CH(═CH₂); and —O—(CH₂)_(w)—O—(C═O)C(CH₃)═CH₂; and wis a integer from 2 to 6, or Z⁴ and Z⁵ have the same definitions asabove for Z¹ and Z².

For the dye D, note that D¹ and D² are defined with the proviso that thedye D¹ and D² do not include a diazo linkage —N═N—.

For the quencher Q, Q¹ and Q² are defined with the proviso that thequencher Q¹ and Q² do not include a diazo linkage —N═N—.

For the in vivo applications, described herein, the ortho-benzylboronicacid derivatives of 4,4′-dipyridyl in the presence of a polymer areexcluded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is the structural formula of(8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris-(methoxypolyethoxyethyl (n˜125)sulfonamide) (HPTS-PEG).

FIG. 1B is the structural formula of8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris-(methacrylpropylamidosulfonamide)(acetoxy-HPTS-MA).

FIG. 1C is the structural formula of8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(carboxypropylsulfonamide) (HPTS-CO₂).

FIGS. 2A to 2G are schematic representations of structures of quenchersQ¹ as the dihalide salts.

FIG. 2A is trans-1,2-bis(4,4′-N,N′-(benzyl-4-boronicacid)-pyridinium)ethylene dibromide;

FIG. 2B is 1,7-N,N′-bis(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-phenanthroliniumdibromide;

FIG. 2C is benzyl viologen (BV)-a comparative quencher;

FIG. 2D is 4,4′-N,N′-bis-(benzyl-2-boronic acid)-dipyridinium dibromide(oBBV);

FIG. 2E is 4,4′-N,N′-bis-(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-dipyridinium dibromide(mBBV);

FIG. 2F is 4,4′-N,N′-bis-(benzyl-4-boronic acid)-dipyridinium dibromide(pBBV);

FIG. 2G is N,N′-bis(benzyl-(2, 3, or 4)-boronic acid-4,7-phenantholiniumhalide (4,7-phen-o, m, or p-BBV);

FIG. 3A is an unsymmetrical glucose responsive viologen, and FIGS. 3B to3I are schematic representations of structures of quencher precursors:

FIG. 3A is 4-N-(benzyl-2-boronic acid)-4′-N′-(benzyl)-dipyridiniumbromide chloride;

FIG. 3B is 4-N-(benzyl-3-boronicacid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-dipyridinium bromide chloride (m-SBBV);

FIG. 3C is 4-N-(benzyl-2-boronicacid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-dipyridinium bromide chloride (o-SBBV);and

FIG. 3D is 4-N-(benzyl-4-boronicacid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-dipyridinium bromide chloride (p-SBBV).

FIG. 3E is trans-1,2-bis-4-N-(benzyl-4-boronicacid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)dipyridinium-4-ethylene dibromide;

FIG. 3F is 4-N-(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-3-ethenyl)-3phenanthrolinium dibromide;

FIG. 3G is 4,4′-N,N-bis-[benzyl-(3-methylene-4-vinyl-pyridiniumbromide)-5-(boronic acid)]-dipyridinium dibromide) (m-BBVBP);

FIG. 3H is 4-N-(benzyl-3-(boronicacid)-7-n-[benzyl-3-(methylene-(1-oxy-3-(oxybenzylvinyl)-propane))-5-boronicacid]-4,7-phenanthrolinium dibromide;

FIG. 3I is4,4′-N,N-bis-[benzyl-(3-methylene-4-vinylpyridiniumbromide)-5-(boronicacid)]-4,7-phenanthrolinium dibromide;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic representations of the structures of theinterpenetrating polymer network (IPN) polymers and semi-IPN polymersrespectively of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a graphic representation of the response of benzyl viologen(0.001M) and 4,4′-N,N′-bis-(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-dipyridiniumdibromide (m-BBV) showing modulation of m-BBV quenching efficiencytoward HPTS-PEG (1×10⁻⁵ M) as a function of glucose concentration.

FIG. 6 is a graphic representation of the response of ortho-, meta-, andparabenzyl boronic acid viologen (BBV) (0.001M) showing modulation ofquenching efficiencies to HPTS-PEG (1×10⁻⁵-M) as a function of glucoseconcentration.

FIG. 7 is a Stem-Volmer plot of m-BBV quenching of HPTS-PEG in pH 7.4phosphate buffer.

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the in vitroprobe as it would be used in a process stream and is also an embodimentillustrating the use of the sensing polymer assembly.

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invitro probe as it would be used in a process stream to monitor forpolyhydroxyl organic compounds, e.g. glucose or fructose.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the in vitroprobe of FIG. 9. It is also a representation of the in vivo sensingpolymer assembly of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a graphic representation of the two component system of4,7-phen m-SBBV and HPTS-MA, plotting fluorescence intensity versus timein seconds in a pH 7.4 buffer.

FIG. 12A is a graphic representation of the fluorescence emissionspectra of 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-(carboxypropyl sulfonamide)(HPTS-CO₂) with increasing m-BBV. It plots fluorescence intensity versuswavelength (nm) from 0 to 1 mM.

FIG. 12B is a graphic representation of the fluorescence emissionresponse to glucose of 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-(carboxypropylsulfonamide) (HPTS-CO₂)/m-BBV. It plots fluorescence intensity versuswavelength (nm) for 0 to 1800 mg/dL.

FIG. 13 is a graphic representation of the glucose response of8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-(carboxypropyl sulfonamide) (HPTS-CO₂)with m-BBV. It plots F/F_(o) versus glucose (mg/dL).

FIG. 14 is a graphic representation of fluorescence intensity versustime (sec) for a two component system of m-BBVBP and HPTS-MA.

FIG. 15 is a graphic representation of glucose response in fluorescenceintensity for hydrogel glued (VetBond) to 1 mm PMMA fiber versus time inseconds.

FIG. 16 is similar to FIG. 15 and is the response at different glucoseconcentrations versus time in seconds.

FIG. 17 is the structure of HPTS(Lys-MA)₃ as prepared in Example 47.

FIG. 18 is a graphic representation of the glucose response of hydrogel.

FIG. 19 is a graphic representation of the characteristic fluorescenceresponse in addition of a quantum dot solution followed by addition ofglucose to the quencher solution at pH 7.4.

FIG. 20 is a graphic representation of a Stern Volmer Plot of 0-BVV²⁺and BV²⁺ quenching the fluorescence of amine and carboxyl substitutedquantum dots (2×10⁻⁷) M at pH 7.4.

FIG. 21 is a graphic representation of glucose response cures obtainedby using o-BBV²⁺ quenching the fluorescence amine and carboxylsubstituted quantum dots at pH 7.4.

FIG. 21A is a graphic representation of glucose response of the hydrogelcontaining 1 MABP and APTS-BuMA with F/F^(o) plotted against time inhours.

FIG. 21B is a graphic representation of glucose response of the hydrogelcontaining 1 MA BP and APTS-BuMA with F/F^(o) plotted against glucoselevel in mM.

FIG. 22A is a graphic representation of glucose response of the hydrogelcontaining P2-33′-oBBV and APTS-DegMA with F/F^(o) plotted against timein hours.

FIG. 22B is a graphic representation of glucose response of the hydrogelcontaining P2-3,3′-oBBV and APTS-DegMA with F/F^(o) plotted againstglucose level in mM.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

As used herein:

“Boronic acid” refers to a structure —B(OH)₂. It is recognized by thoseskilled in the art that a boronic acid may be present as a boronateester at various stages in the synthesis of the quenchers of thisinvention. Boronic acid is meant to include such esters.

“Detector” refers to a device for monitoring light intensity such as aphoto diode.

“Fluorophore” refers to a substance that when illuminated by light at aparticular wavelength emits light at a longer wavelength; i.e. itfluoresces. Fluorophores include organic dyes, organometallic compounds,metal chelates, fluorescent conjugated polymers, quantum dots ornanoparticles and combinations of the above. Fluorophores may bediscrete moieties or substituents attached to a polymer. “Fluorescentdye” or “dye” is selected from a discrete compound or a reactiveintermediate which is convertible to a second discrete compound, or to apolymerizable compound; or D is pendant group or chain unit in a polymerprepared from said reactive intermediate or polymerizable compound,which polymer is water-soluble or water-dispersible or is awater-insoluble polymer, said polymer which is optionally crosslinked.

“Fluorescent conjugated polymers” refers to a polymer in which thestructure as a whole behaves as a fluorophore A typical example ispolyphenylene vinylene, i.e., a conjugated carbon-carbon double bond ispresent and conjugation is sufficient for the polymer to havefluorescent properties.

“HEMA” refers to 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate.

“Light source” or “excitation light source” refers to a device thatemits electromagnetic radiation such as a xenon lamp, medium pressuremercury lamp, a light emitting diode (LED) all of which are commerciallyavailable.

“Linking group” refers to L, L¹ or L² which are divalent moieties, thatcovalently connect the sensing moiety to the polymer or matrix. Examplesof L, L¹ or L² include those which are each independently selected froma direct bond or, a lower alkylene having 1 to 8 carbon atoms,optionally terminated with or interrupted by one or more divalentconnecting groups selected from sulfonamide (—SO₂NH—), amide —(C═O)N—,ester —(C═O)—O—, ether.O—, sulfide —S—, sulfone (—SO₂—), phenylene—C₆H₄—, urethane —NH(C═O)—O—, urea —NH(C═O)NH—, thiourea —NH(C═S)—NH,amide —(C═O)NH—, amine-NR— (where R is defined as alkyl having 1 to 6carbon atoms) and the like.

“Quencher” refers to a compound that reduces the emission of afluorophore when in its presence. Quencher Q is selected from a discretecompound, a reactive intermediate which is convertible to a seconddiscrete compound or to a polymerizable compound or Q is a pendant groupor chain unit in a polymer prepared from said reactive intermediate orpolymerizable compound, which polymer is water-soluble or dispersible oris an insoluble polymer, said polymer is optionally crosslinked.

“Quantum dots” refers to when electrons and holes in material areconfined to ultra-small regions of space (typically 1-25 nm), thematerial structure enters the regime of size quantization, wherein theelectronic energy levels of the system become discrete rather thanquasi-continuous, and the optical and electronic properties of thematerials become strongly size-dependent. Such structures are termedquantum dots or nanocrystals, quantum rods, or quantum wells dependingupon their shape and dimensionality of the quantum confinement. Theyinclude semiconductor crystals with a diameter of a few nanometerstypically surface treated with functional groups to make themwater-dispersible.

“In vivo” refers to analysis in a living mammal, preferably a humanbeing. In vivo measurements take place under physiological conditions oftemperature, pressure, medium, analyte concentration and pH as found ina human body.

“IPN” or “interpenetrating polymer network” refers to a combination oftwo or more network polymers synthesized in juxtaposition (see L. H.Sperling, Interpenetrating Polymer Networks, ACS Advances in ChemistrySeries 239, 1994, from Aug. 25-30, 1991 New York ACS Meeting).

“Pyridinium” refers to structures (linking groups or pendant groupscomprised of units, i.e. pyridine rings substituted on the nitrogen andoptionally on carbons in other positions on the ring. Substituents oncarbon include vinyl groups and substituents on nitrogen include themethylene group of a benzyl boronic acid.

“Semi-IPN” or semi-interpenetrating polymer network” refers to acombination of polymers in which one component is soluble and the otherpolymer is a network (see Sperling above).

“Onium” refers to a heteroaromatic ionic compound having a formalpositive charge on the heteroatom, which in the case of viologen is anitrogen.

“PEG” or “polyethylene glycol” refers to polymer or chain segments,which contain oxyethylene (—OCH₂—CH₂—) repeating units.

“PEGDMA” refers to polyethylene glycol terminated with two methacrylategroups.

“PEGMA” refers to polyethylene glycol terminated with one methacrylategroup.

“Physiological pH” refers to the pH range of 7.3-7.5 normally existingin the blood of a healthy living human being. In critically illpatients, a physiological pH between about 6.8 to 7.8 is often observed.

“Visible light range” refers to light in the spectrum between about 400and 800 nm.

“Viologen” refers generally to compounds having the basic structure of anitrogen containing conjugated N-substituted heterocyclic aromaticbis-onium. salt, such as 2,2′-, 3,3′- or 4,4′-N,N′ bis-(benzyl)bipyridium dihalide (i.e., dichloride, bromide chloride), etc. Viologenalso includes the substituted phenanthroline compounds.

The present invention concerns a number of important advances. Theseinclude but are not limited to a method and an in vivo device fordetermining carbohydrate, 1,2-diol or 1,3-diol levels in liquidsselected from aqueous or organic liquids or combinations thereof or in aphysiological fluid, respectively. A series of fluorophore dyes, aseries of boronic acid substituted quenchers, and combinations ofinteracting water-compatible and water-soluble and organicsolvent-compatible and organic solvent-soluble organic polymers areused. These aspects are discussed in more detail below. The componentsare discussed first, and their combination to produce the method and thedevice follows.

Quencher

The moiety that provides glucose recognition in the present invention isan aromatic boronic acid. More specifically, the boronic acid of thisinvention is covalently bonded to a conjugated nitrogen-containingheterocyclic aromatic bis-onium structure, e.g. a viologen, (see forexample FIGS. 3A to 3I) in which the boronic acid has a pKa less thanabout 8, preferably less than about 7, and reacts reversibly withglucose in aqueous media to form boronate esters. The extent of reactionis related to glucose concentration in the medium.

Bis-onium salts of this invention are prepared from conjugatedheterocyclic aromatic dinitrogen compounds. The conjugated heterocyclicaromatic dinitrogen compounds are selected from dipyridyls, dipyridylethylenes, dipyridyl phenylenes, phenanthrolines, and diazafluorenes,wherein the nitrogen atoms are in a different aromatic ring and are ableto form an onium salt. It is understood that all isomers of saidconjugated heterocyclic aromatic dinitrogen compounds in which bothnitrogens can be substituted are useful in this invention. Bis-oniumsalts derived from 4,4′-dipyridyl and 4,7-phenanthrolines are included.The viologen boronic acid adducts are discrete compounds or arewater-compatible pendant groups or units in a chain of a water-solubleor water-dispersible polymer with a molecular weight greater than 10,000or are bonded to an insoluble polymer matrix. One or more boronic acidgroups are attached to the viologen moieties.

For the polymeric quencher precursors, multiple options are availablefor the boronic acid moiety to be attached to two different nitrogens inthe heteroaromatic centrally located group. These are:

-   -   a) a polymerizable group on a first aromatic moiety is attached        to one nitrogen and a second aromatic group containing at least        one —B(OH)₂ group is attached to the second nitrogen;    -   b) one or more boronic acid groups are attached to a first        aromatic moiety which is attached to one nitrogen and one        boronic acid and a polymerizable group are attached to a second        aromatic group which second aromatic group is attached to the        second nitrogen;    -   c) one boronic acid group and a polymerizable group are attached        to a first aromatic moiety which first aromatic group is        attached to one nitrogen, and a boronic acid group and a        polymerizable group are attached to a second aromatic moiety        which is attached to the a second nitrogen; and    -   d) one boronic acid is attached to each nitrogen and a        polymerizable or coupling groups is attached to the        heteroaromatic ring. Preferred embodiments have two boronic acid        moieties and one polymerizable group or coupling group.

Representative viologens with one boronic acid group include thefollowing:

1. boronic acid substituted viologen of the structure:

-   -   where n=0-3, preferably n is 1, and where L is a linking group,        i.e. L¹ or L² as defined herein and M is a polymer matrix as        defined herein, and    -   where Y² is phenyl boronic acid (m- and p-isomers) or naphthyl        boronic acid, preferably a phenyl boronic acid, and    -   2. a substituent on the heterocyclic ring of a viologen.

The viologen is contemplated to include combinations of the above. Theprecursor from which the viologen/boronic acid is derived is anunsymmetrically substituted viologen, such as with a boronic acidfunctional group on one end and a polymerizable group, such as a vinylgroup, on the other (see FIGS. 3A-3I). The viologen/boronic acid moietyis a pendant group or a chain unit in a water soluble or dispersiblepolymer, or a unit in a crosslinked, hydrophilic polymer or hydrogelsufficiently permeable to glucose to allow equilibrium to beestablished. In a preferred embodiments, greater intensities of signalsare observed when the viologen comprises two or more boronic acidmoieties.

Preferred quenchers Q² are prepared from precursors comprising viologensderived from 3.3′-dipyridyl substituted on the nitrogens withbenzylboronic acid groups and at other positions on the dipyridyl ringswith a polymerizable group or a coupling group. Representative viologensinclude:

Where L is independently selected from L, L¹ or L² as defined herein, Zis independently selected from Z¹, Z², Z³, Z⁴ or Z⁵ as defined hereinand R′ is —B(OH)₂ and R″ is a coupling group as is defined herein.

Other examples of novel quencher precursors include:

Fluorophore Dye

Dyes useful in this invention (See FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C) are excited bylight of wavelength about or greater than 400 nm (preferably 430 nm),with a Stokes shift large enough that the excitation and emissionwavelengths are separable, being at least 10 nm, and preferably greaterthan or equal to about 30 nm. These dyes are susceptible to quenching byelectron acceptor molecules, such as viologens, are resistant tophoto-bleaching, and are stable against photo-oxidation, hydrolysis, andbiodegradation. Dyes useful in the present invention have an apparentStem-Volmer quenching constant when tested with methyl viologen of about50 or greater and preferably greater than 100. A general description ofthe Stem-Volmer test is found below in Preparation A. Preferred dyesinclude polymeric derivatives of hydroxypyrene trisulfonic acid andaminopyrene trisulfonic acid. In some cases, the dye is bonded to apolymer through the sulfonamide functional groups. The polymeric dyesare water-soluble, water-insoluble but swellable or dispersible in wateror may be crosslinked. A preferred dye as a polymer is for example, awater soluble PEG adduct of8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(methoxypolyethoxy)ethyl (n˜125)sulfonamide) (formed by reaction of acetoxypyrene trisulfonyl chloridewith aminoethyl PEG monomethyl ether. The resulting dye polymer has amolecular weight of at least about 10,000 such that, when it is trappedin a hydrogel or network polymer matrix, it is incapable of diffusingout of the matrix into the surrounding aqueous medium.

Representative dyes as discrete compounds are the tris adducts formed byreacting 8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonylchloride (HPTS-Cl) with anamino acid, such as amino butyric acid. Hydroxypyrene trisulfonamidedyes bonded to a polymer and bearing one or more anionic groups are mostpreferred, such as copolymers of8-hydroxypyrene-1-N-(methacrylamidopropylsulfonamido)-N′,N″-3,6-bis(carboxypropylsulfonamide)HPTS-CO₂-MA with HEMA, PEGMA, etc.

Other examples include soluble copolymers of8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide) withHEMA, PEGMA, or other hydrophilic comonomers. The phenolic substituentin the dye is protected during polymerization by a blocking group thatcan be removed by hydrolysis after completion of polymerization. Suchblocking groups, which are suitable for example acetoxy,trifluoroacetoxy, and the like are well known in the art. Otherpreferred dyes include polymeric derivatives of aminopyrene trisulfonicacid [APTS] in which the dye is bonded to the polymer as a pendant groupor a unit in the polymer chain. The dye is bonded to the polymer througha sulfonamide linkage or preferably through an amine linking group. Somepolymerizable APTS derivatives include:

It is essential that, for sensing to occur, the sensing moieties(analyte, dye, quencher) must be in close physical proximity to allowinteraction, i.e. mixed on a molecular level and in equilibrium with thespecies to be detected. While not bound by any theory or mechanism, inmost cases the molecules may have to collide or the molecule centers areless than 10 angstroms apart for quenching to occur. However thedistance dependent quenching falls of rapidly if the molecules arefurther apart. It appears that the intensity of the fluorescence emittedby the dye is attenuated by photo-induced intermolecular electrontransfer from dye to viologen when viologen/boronic acid adduct and thedye are in close proximity. When glucose binds to the boronic acid, theboronate ester interacts with the viologen thereby altering itsquenching efficacy according to the extent of glucose binding. Thespecific nature of this interaction is not yet established, but it mayinvolve electron transfer from boronate to viologen or boronateformation may shift the reduction potential of the viologen. Thereduction potential is an indicator of the ability of a quencher toaccept an electron.

Quantum Dot Embodiments

Fluorescent quantum dot semiconductor nanoparticles have foundincreasing use as replacements for traditional organic fluorophores insuch applications as biomolecule tagging, tissue imaging and ionsensing. (Ref. 1-5) Interest in fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) derivesfrom their broad absorption, narrow emission, intense brightness, andgood photostability relative to organic dyes. (6) Surprisingly, though,despite the large and diverse set of fluorescence-based sensing systemsfor glucose, no methods for glucose detection utilizing inherentlyfluorescent QDs have yet been reported. (7. The two-component approachto glucose sensing described herein allows for considerable flexibilityin choosing the quencher/receptor and fluorophore components dependingon the particular requirements of the sensing application. For example,fluorophore components are selected to provide any in a range of desiredexcitation or emission wavelengths while a particular quencher/receptormay be chosen for reasons of its monosaccharide binding selectivity.Some of the advantages of QDs are realized in the two-component systemto sense changes in glucose concentration in aqueous solution.

Fluorescent QDs are constructed of inorganic semiconductor corematerials such as CdTe and CdSec, coated with an insulating shellmaterial such as ZnS and further treated to provide desired surfacechemistry. For the preparation of water-soluble core shell QDs, surfacefunctionalization with phosphonate, carboxyl, or amine groups is oftenemployed. The particular surface chemistry allows for the QDs to bind tomolecules of interest such as proteins and also determines theirsolubility, aggregation behavior and sensitivity to quenching processes.Several groups have observed quenching of QD fluorescence using methylviologen (MV²⁺). (1, 13-15) The process is believed to occur throughexcited state electron transfer from the QD to the viologen resulting inreduction of the viologen to MV•⁺. Previous studies had shown thatviologens were extremely efficient in statically quenching thefluorescence of many organic dyes considerable degree of recovery of theinitial, unquenched quantum dot fluorescence after addition of 100 nMglucose (FIG. 21).

Results using quantum dots in a hydrogel in two component sensingsystems for the detection of sugars are in Example 56.

Polymer Matrix for Sensors

For in vivo applications, the sensor is used in a moving stream ofphysiological fluid which contains one or more polyhydroxyl organiccompounds or is implanted in tissue such as muscle which contains saidcompounds. Therefore, it is essential that none of the sensing moietiesescape from the sensor assembly. Thus, for use in vivo, the sensingcomponents are part of an organic polymer sensing assembly. Soluble dyesand quenchers can be confined by a semi-permeable membrane that allowspassage of the analyte but blocks passage of the sensing moieties. Thiscan be realized by using as sensing moieties soluble molecules that aresubstantially larger than the analyte molecules (molecular weight of atleast twice that of the analyte or greater than 1000 preferably greaterthan 5000); and employing a selective semipermeable membrane such as adialysis or an ultrafiltration membrane with a specific molecular weightcutoff between the two so that the sensing moieties are quantitativelyretained.

Preferably the sensing moieties are immobilized in an insoluble polymermatrix, which is freely permeable to glucose, see FIG. 8. The polymermatrix is comprised of organic, inorganic or combinations of polymersthereof. The matrix may be composed of biocompatible materials.Alternatively, the matrix is coated with a second biocompatible polymerthat is permeable to the analytes of interest.

The function of the polymer matrix is to hold together and immobilizethe fluorophore and quencher moieties while at the same time allowingcontact with the analyte, and binding of the analyte to the boronicacid. To achieve this effect, the matrix must be insoluble in themedium, and in close association with it by establishing a high surfacearea interface between matrix and analyte solution. For example, anultra-thin film or microporous support matrix is used. Alternatively,the matrix is swellable in the analyte solution, e.g. a hydrogel matrixis used for aqueous systems. In some instances, the sensing polymers arebonded to a surface such as the surface of a light conduit, orimpregnated in a microporous membrane. In all cases, the matrix must notinterfere with transport of the analyte to the binding sites so thatequilibrium can be established between the two phases. Techniques forpreparing ultra-thin films, microporous polymers, microporous sol-gels,and hydrogels are established in the art. All useful matrices aredefined as being analyte permeable.

Hydrogel polymers are preferred for this invention. The term, hydrogel,as used herein refers to a polymer that swells substantially, but doesnot dissolve in water. Such hydrogels may be linear, branched, ornetwork polymers, or polyelectrolyte complexes, with the proviso thatthey contain no soluble or leachable fractions. Typically, hydrogelnetworks are prepared by a crosslinking step, which is performed onwater-soluble polymers so that they swell but do not dissolve in aqueousmedia. Alternatively, the hydrogel polymers are prepared bycopolymerizing a mixture of hydrophilic and crosslinking monomers toobtain a water swellable network polymer. Such polymers are formedeither by addition or condensation polymerization, or by combinationprocess. In these cases, the sensing moieties are incorporated into thepolymer by copolymerization using monomeric derivatives in combinationwith network-forming monomers. Alternatively, reactive moieties arecoupled to an already prepared matrix using a post polymerizationreaction. Said sensing moieties are units in the polymer chain orpendant groups attached to the chain.

The hydrogels useful in this invention are also monolithic polymers,such as a single network to which both dye and quencher are covalentlybonded, or multi-component hydrogels. Multi-component hydrogels includeinterpenetrating networks, polyelectrolyte complexes, and various otherblends of two or more polymers to obtain a water swellable composite,which includes dispersions of a second polymer in a hydrogel matrix andalternating microlayer assemblies.

Monolithic hydrogels are typically formed by free radicalcopolymerization of a mixture of hydrophilic monomers, including but notlimited to HEMA, PEGMA, methacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl acrylate, N-vinylpyrrolidone, acrylamide, N,N′-dimethyl acrylamide, and the like; ionicmonomers include methacryloylaminopropyl trimethylammonium chloride,diallyl dimethyl ammonium. chloride, vinyl benzyl trimethyl ammoniumchloride, sodium sulfopropyl methacrylate, and the like; crosslinkersinclude ethylene dimethacrylate, PEGDMA, trimethylolpropane triacrylate,and the like. The ratios of monomers are chosen to optimize networkproperties including permeability, swelling index, and gel strengthusing principles well established in the art. In one embodiment, the dyemoiety is derived from an ethylenically unsaturated derivative of a dyemolecule, such as8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide), thequencher moiety is derived from an ethylenically unsaturated viologensuch as 4-N-(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4ethenyl)-dipyridiniumdihalide (m-SBBV) and the matrix is made from HEMA and PEGDMA. Theconcentration of dye is chosen to optimize emission intensity. The ratioof quencher to dye is adjusted to provide sufficient quenching toproduce the desired measurable signal.

Alternatively, a monolithic hydrogel is formed by a condensationpolymerization. For example, acetoxy pyrene trisulfonyl chloride isreacted with an excess of PEG diamine to obtain a tris-(amino PEG)adduct dissolved in the unreacted diamine. A solution of excesstrimesoyl chloride and an acid acceptor is reacted with4-N-(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-4′-N′-(2hydroxyethyl) bipyridinium dihalideto obtain an acid chloride functional ester of the viologen. The tworeactive mixtures are brought into contact with each other and allowedto react to form the hydrogel, e.g. by casting a thin film of onemixture and dipping it into the other.

Polymers that are capable of reacting with boronic acids to formboronate esters under the conditions of this method are not useful asmatrix polymers. Such polymers have 1,2- or 1,3-dihydroxy substituents,including but not limited to cellulosic polymers, polysaccharides,polyvinyl alcohol and its copolymers and the like.

Multi-component hydrogels wherein the dye is incorporated in onecomponent and the quencher in another are preferred for making thesensor of this invention. Further, these systems are optionallymolecularly imprinted to enhance interaction between components and toprovide selectivity for glucose over other polyhydroxy analytes.Preferably, the multicomponent system is an interpenetrating polymernetwork (IPN) or a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN).

The IPN polymers are typically made by sequential polymerization. First,a network comprising the quencher is formed. The network is then swollenwith a mixture of monomers including the dye monomer and a secondpolymerization is carried out to obtain the IPN hydrogel.

The semi-IPN hydrogel is formed by dissolving a soluble polymercontaining dye moieties in a mixture of monomers including a quenchermonomer and through complex formation with the fluorophore. Thefluorescence of core shell quantum dots bearing polar surface groupssuch as carboxyl and amine is similarly quenched through complexformation with the boronic acid-substituted viologen quenchers.

Two sets of commercially available core shell CdSc quantum dots wereidentically prepared except for their surface fictionalization: one setwas prepared with carboxyl groups on the surface, the other with aminegroups. (16) Both sets had a fairly narrow fluorescence emissioncentered at 604 nm. These QDs indeed functioned in this system in amanner similar to that of organic dyes: showing a decrease influorescence upon addition of viologen quencher. Robust fluorescence wasobserved recovery upon addition of glucose to the quenched QD solutions(FIG. 18).

The sensitivity of both quantum dot sets fluorescence quenching by theboronic acid substituted viologen o-BBV²⁺ was determined in pH 7.4aqueous solution (FIG. 20). The fluorescence of both the carboxyl andamine substituted QDs were sensitive to quenching by o-BBV²⁺, with thecarboxyl substituted quantum dots showing a stronger sensitivity toquenching than the amine substituted dots. Fluorescence of both sets ofQDs was also similarly quenched by simple unsubstituted benzyl viologen(BV²⁺) (17) though to a lesser degree than with boronic acid substitutedviologen. Significantly, while the degree of ionization of the surfacegroup was not determined, the carboxyl substituted dots are expected toexist primarily in their anionic form at pH 7.4 whereas the amine dotswould most likely be neutral. The enhanced sensitivity of the carboxylsubstituted QDs may be due to electrostatic attraction between thecationic viologen quencher and the anionic surface groups on the QD.

Previous studies had shown that choice of an appropriate ratio ofquencher to fluorophore was critical for a strong and linear signalresponse across the physiological glucose range. When experimenting withseveral different quencher-to-quantum dot ratios generally the samebehavior was observed as with traditional organic dyes where higherratios tended to give larger, more linear fluorescence signals inresponse to addition of glucose (FIG. 3).

Both sets of QDs were screened for glucose response at quencher: QDratios of 50, 200, 500, and 1000 to 1. For both the amine and carboxylsubstituted QDs, we obtained our optimal results using the 1000:1quencher-to-quantum dot ratio. Significantly, the use of quantum dotsallows for a large signal response and a polymerizing. Alternatively, asoluble quencher polymer is dissolved in a monomer mixture containingthe dye monomer and the mixture polymerized. In either case, themolecular weight of the soluble component must be sufficiently high(about or greater than 10,000) that it cannot diffuse out of thenetwork, i.e. it becomes physically bound in or trapped by the matrix.

In FIG. 4A, one group of polymer chains 41, 42, 43 and 44 contain thequencher, for example quencher Q². A second group of polymer chains 45,46 and 47 containing the dye, for example, dye D², is formed at aboutthe same time or sequentially. The points of crosslinking of thepolymers are designated as 48 and 49. In FIG. 4B, one group of polymerchains 51, 52, 53 and 54 contain the quencher, for example, quencher Q².Dye D¹ is to a pendant group on a second polymer 56. Crosslinking points57 are designated.

Molecular Imprinting—Optionally, the polymers of this invention aremolecularly imprinted. In one embodiment, an organic salt is formed froma monomeric quencher cation and a monomeric dye anion. The organic saltis then copolymerized, under conditions such that the ion pairs remainat least partially associated, to form a monolithic hydrogel matrix.Alternatively, the quencher monomer is polymerized to form a firstpolymer, which is then ion exchanged to obtain a polyelectrolyte withanionic dye countering. The latter is then copolymerized with suitablemonomers to form an interpenetrating dye polymer, which is associatedthrough ionic bonding with the quencher polymer. The combination iseither an IPN polymer or a semi-IPN polymer. In another embodiment, thepolymers of this invention are molecularly imprinted to enhanceselectivity for glucose over other polyhydroxyl compounds, such asfructose, by first forming a bis boronate ester of glucose with apolymerizable viologen boronic acid. This ester is then copolymerizedand hydrolyzed to obtain a glucose-imprinted polymer. This polymer issubsequently used to form an IPN with a dye polymer.

In one aspect, m-SBBV is mixed with glucose in about a 2:1 molar ratioin aqueous organic solvent, e.g. water/dioxane. The product bis-boronateester is recovered by distilling off the solvents under vacuum. Theproduct is next copolymerized with HEMA and PEGDMA to obtain a firsthydrogel following the procedures described in Example 14. Glucose isthen leached from the hydrogel by conditioning in dilute hydrochloricacid. After conditioning in deionized water, the hydrogel is contactedwith the dye monomer of Example 28 to form a complex between the anionicdye and the cationic quencher polymer. A second stage polymerizationwith more HEMA and PEGDMA is then carried out to form a molecularlyimprinted IPN hydrogel.

The individual components in a multi-component hydrogel are made by thesame or a different polymerization scheme. For example, in an IPNpolymer, a first network is formed by free radical polymerization, thesecond by condensation polymerization. Likewise, in a semi-IPN polymer,the soluble component is formed by condensation polymerization and thenetwork by free radical polymerization. For example, a quencher polymer,such as poly 4,4′-N,N′-bis(1,3-xylylene-5-boronic acid) bipyridiniumdihalide is formed by condensing 4,4′-dipyridyl with 3,5-bis-bromomethylphenylboronic acid. The quencher polymer is dissolved in a reactionmixture containing8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide) asdescribed above, and the solution is polymerized to obtain the semi-IPNhydrogel.

The combination of components described herein produces a device for thedetermination of polyhydroxy substituted organic molecules inphysiological fluids.

In a specific embodiment, a high molecular weight water-soluble dye isprepared by condensing acetoxypyrene trisulfonyl chloride withaminoethyl PEG monomethyl ether to obtain the8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris-(methoxypolyethoxyethyl (n˜125)sulfonamide). The PEG dye polymer is dissolved in a mixture comprised ofHEMA, PEGDMA, 4-N-(benzyl-3-boronicacid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-dipyridinium dihalide (m-SBBV), aqueousalcohol and free radical initiator and polymerized to obtain a semi-IPNhydrogel. After hydrolysis with dilute base and leaching with deionizedwater, the hydrogel is affixed to a bifurcated optical fiber lightconduit such that it can be exposed to and equilibrate with the bodyfluid. The light conduit together with appropriate filters is connectedto a blue light emitting diode (LED) light source and a siliconphotodetector together with an electronic controller and associatedmeasurement instrumentation. The sensor is placed in the tip of acatheter, which is inserted in the body in the desired location. Thesensor is excited by light of about 475 nm and the fluorescenceintensity monitored at about 520 nm. The level of glucose in the bodyfluid is determined from the intensity of the emission.

A Single Component Viologen Sensor

In another embodiment the invention is a boronic acid substitutedviologen covalently bonded to a fluorophore. An example of a singlecomponent viologen sensor as a discrete compound is shown as Example 39.Preferably, the adduct is a polymerizable compound or is a unit in apolymer. One such adduct is prepared by first forming an unsymmetricalviologen from 4,4′-dipyridyl by attaching a benzyl-3-boronic acid groupto one nitrogen and an aminoethyl group to the other. The viologen iscondensed sequentially first with 8-acetoxy-pyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonylchloride in a 1:1 mole ratio followed by reaction with excess PEGdiamine to obtain a prepolymer mixture. An acid acceptor is included inboth steps to scavenge the byproduct acid. The prepolymer mixture iscrosslinked by reaction with a polyisocyanate to obtain a hydrogel. Theproduct is treated with base to remove the blocking group. Incompletereaction products and unreacted starting materials are leached out ofthe hydrogel by exhaustive extraction with deionized water beforefurther use. The product is responsive to glucose when used as thesensing component as described herein.

Alternatively, said adducts are ethylenically unsaturated monomers forexample dimethyl bis-bromomethyl benzene boronate is reacted with excess4,4-dipyridyl to form a half viologen adduct. After removing the excessdipyridyl, the adduct is further reacted with an excess ofbromoethylamine hydrochloride to form the bis-viologen adduct. Thisadduct is coupled to a pyranine dye by reaction with 8-acetoxypyrenetrisulfonyl chloride in a 1:1 mole ratio in the presence of an acidacceptor followed by reaction with excess aminopropylmethacrylamide.Finally, any residual amino groups are reacted with methacrylolchloride. After purification the dye/viologen monomer is copolymerizedwith HEMA and PEGDMA to obtain a hydrogel.

The advantage of this group of viologens is that dye and quencher areheld in close proximity by covalent bonds, which could lead to increasedsensitivity. The disadvantage is that making these adducts is aformidable synthetic challenge and changes in composition are difficultto implement. Characterization and purification of the product isequally difficult. Therefore, the embodiments in which dye and quencherare separate entities are preferred.

Batch Optical Method of Analysis for Glucose

Measurements are carried out in a conventional luminescencespectrometer. A solution containing a dye and quenched of this inventionbuffered to pH=7.4 is prepared and loaded into a cuvet. The sample isexcited by light of wavelength suitable for the dye being used and thefluorescence intensity measured. A fixed amount of the unknown glucosecontaining solution is added to the solution and the measurement isrepeated. The change in intensity is used to calculate glucoseconcentration by reference to a calibration curve determined separatelyby measuring a standard series of glucose solutions and plotting theresults as intensity change as a function of concentration. In thismethod, the sensing components need to be stable only for the time ofthe test, and the reaction with glucose need not be reversible.

Optical Method of Process Stream Analysis

A flow-through cell is fabricated for the luminescence spectrometer. Asensing polymer is mounted in the cell such that it is exposed on onesurface to the excitation light and on the other to the process stream.A baseline is established by passing the process stream free of glucosethrough the cell and measuring the steady state fluorescence. Theprocess stream is then passed through the cell and the fluorescenceintensity monitored as a function of time. Glucose concentration isdetermined by reference to a calibration curve as described above. Inthis method, the sensor must be stable over time of operation and thereaction with glucose must be reversible. Further, the sensing moietiesmust be immobilized and not leach out into the process stream.

Device Configuration

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the device as used for one timeor continuous monitoring for sugar, i.e. glucose. The sensing polymer 81which contains the dye and quenched may be attached to an optionalsupport 82. For some embodiments an optional semi-permeable polymermembrane 83A is present. For other applications it may be useful to havean optimal biocompatible coating 83B covering the assembly. The lightsource 84 is connected to an optical filter 85 to an optical fiber 86 tothe sensing polymer 81. Detector 87 is connected to an optical filter 88to an optical fiber 89 which connects to sensing polymer 81. Lightsource 84 and detector 87 are both connected to electronic controller90. Thus the system can detect changes in the sensing polymer based onthe glucose content of the physiological fluid. The device useful in aprocess stream and for in vivo implanting and monitoring is shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows the optical device. FIG. 10 is the crosssectional representation of the probe. For FIG. 9, light source 11(visible) is connected by optical fiber 12 to active cell 13.Semipermeable membrane 14 allows the analyte to enter and exit freelyfrom cell 13. Optical fiber 15 conveys the altered light to filter 16,and optional photomultiplier to 17 to produce the analyte spectrum foranalysis.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, cell 13 includes the selectively permeablemembrane such that the mixture of polymer 21, dye 22, and quenched 23are retained in cell 13 under the conditions of analysis. The lightenters cell 14 via optical fiber 12. Within the active portion of 14A ofcell 14, the polymer 21, dye 22 and quenched 33, contact analyte 24,which has selectively entered the cell causing a quantitative andreproducible change in the spectrum. This modified light signal travelsoptical fiber 15 to photomultiplier 17 to be analyzed. One skilled inthe art will recognize that the serving moieties of this invention canbe used in other implantable fluorescence sensing devices known in theart. The components for the quencher, fluorophore and analyte permeablecomponent (aka, matrix) are described herein and in the claims. All areincorporated by reference in this specification.

EXPERIMENTAL

Reagents and solvents are used as received from commercial supplierunless otherwise noted. (See Chem Sources USA which is publishedannually.)

The following examples are provided to be descriptive and exemplaryonly. They not to be construed to limiting in any manner or fashion.

Procedure A Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of the ApparentStern-Volmer Quenching Constant of Methyl Viologen with a FluorescentDye

The apparent Stern-Volmer quenching constant is derived from the slopeof a SternVolmer plot of relative fluorescence intensity (F_(o)/F)versus concentration of quenched (M). See J. R. Lakowicz, (1999)Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy Second Edition, KluwerAcademic/Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 237-289. One skilled in theart is in general able to perform this analysis for any fluorescentdye/quenched pair in a particular solvent of interest. This generalStern-Volmer analysis is used in determining the Stern-Volmer quenchingconstants in 0.1 ionic strength pH 7.4 phosphate buffer.

In order to avoid concentration quenching effects, the concentration ofthe dye is generally adjusted so that the optical density of the dye, atexcitation λ_(max)≦0.5 absorption units. Once the desired dyeconcentration is determined, a stock dye solution is prepared in whichthe concentration is 5 times greater than that desired in the finalmeasurements. For example, a dye for which the desired finalconcentration, which gives an optical density of excitation λ_(max)≦0.5absorption units, is 1×10⁻⁵ M, would require a stock solution in whichthe concentration is 5×10⁻⁵ M.

Once determined, as is described above, 10 mL of dye stock solution ofthe appropriate concentration is made by weighing out the appropriatemass of dye and placing the solid into a 10 mL volumetric flask. Theflask is then filled to the 10 mL mark with 0.1 ionic strength pH 7.4phosphate buffer.

A stock solution of methyl viologen (25 mL, 0.0025 M) was prepared in a10-mL volumetric flask with pH 7.4 phosphate buffer (0.1 ionicstrength). Seven different solutions containing methyl viologen werethen prepared in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer as described below in

TABLE 1 Volume Final Volume dye quencher Volume Final (Quenched)standard (mL) standard (mL) buffer (mL) (dye) (M) (M) 1 0.00 4.001.00E−05 0.00E+00 1 0.20 3.80 1.00E−05 1.00E−04 1 0.30 3.70 1.00E−051.50E−04 1 0.40 3.50 1.00E−05 2.50E−04 1 0.50 3.00 1.00E−05 5.00E−04 11.50 2.50 1.00E−05 7.50E−04 1 2.00 2.00 1.00E−05 1.00E−03

Each sample is then in-turn analyzed in a luminescence spectrometer setat the appropriate excitation wavelength and the appropriate emissionwavelength range for the corresponding dye. The instrumental settings(slit widths, scan speed, optical filters, excitation wavelength,emission wavelength range) are held constant throughout the analysis ofthe series of samples). The emission fluorescence intensity is thendetermined as the integration of the fluorescence intensity over theemission wavelength range by the trapezoidal rule approximation method.The integrated values are plotted on the y-axis and the quenchedconcentrations are plotted on the x-axis and the slope of the resultingline is calculated by linear regression as the Stern-Volmer quenchingconstant. One skilled in the art will realize that based on quenchingmechanism the Stern-Volmer plot may not result in a linear relationship.However through the use of the appropriate mathematical relationships,which is known and understood by one skilled in the art, the apparentStern-Volmer quenching constant is calculated and used for comparison.

Preparation A Synthesis of Dimethyl-(4-Bromomethyl)-Benzeneboronate

An oven-dried, 100-mL round bottom flask was cooled under argon, fittedwith a magnetic stirring bar, and charged with(4-bromomethyl)-benzeneboronic acid (12.49 mmols, 2.684 g). The flaskwas sealed with a septum and charged with pentane (55 mL). Thesuspension was stirred at room temperature and upon addition of freshlydistilled CH₃OH (3.16 g, 4 mL, 97 mmols) the solution instantlyclarified. After stirring for 20 minutes, the solution was dried overMgSO₄, then over CaCl₂ (to remove excess CH₃OH). The supernatant wascannulated, under argon, through a glass-fritted funnel (medium), andthe pentane subsequently removed in vacuo. The remaining yellow oil wasfurther dried under reduced pressure (0.1 torr, 1 hr). Yield: 1.6 g,6.59 mmols (56%). ¹H-NMR (CD₃OD, ppm): 4.5 (s, 2H), 7.4 (d, 2H), 7.55(d, 2H). ¹¹B-NMR (CH₃OH, ppm): 29 (s). Similar procedures were used toprepare the corresponding 2- and 3-isomers. The products were used tomake the boronic acid-viologen compounds of Examples 1-3, 5 and 6.

Preparation B Synthesis of 8-Acetoxy-Pyrene-1,3,6-Trisulfonyl Chloride

Trisodium-8-acetoxy-pyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (acetoxy-HPTS, 11.33 g, 20mmol) was suspended in 30 mL of thionyl chloride to which 5 drops ofdimethylformamide was added. The suspension was refluxed for 3 hr.,during which time it became a brown solution. The solution was thencooled to 25° C. under an argon atmosphere. Thionyl chloride was thendistilled off under vacuum (2 Torr) leaving a yellow residue. The yellowresidue was transferred to three separate centrifuge tubes along with 60mL of dichloromethane. The suspensions were then centrifuged and thesupernatant solutions transferred to a dry round bottom flask. Theresidue remaining in the centrifuge tubes was washed an additional fourtimes each with 10 mL portions of dichloromethane. The supernatantsolutions were combined and left overnight under an argon atmosphere andsome precipitation was observed. The dichloromethane solution was addedto 250 mL of pentane causing precipitation of a large amount of yellowsolid. The supernatant was removed by a double-ended needle and theyellow solid was dried on high vacuum (0.2 Torr). Yield: 8.62 g, 15.5mmol (78%), ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃, ppm): 2.682 (s, 3H), 8.833, (d, J=10Hz, 1H), 8.915 (s, 1H), 9.458 (d, J=10 Hz, 1H), 9.509 (d, J=10 Hz, 1H),9.630 (s, 1H), 9.685 (d, J=10 Hz, 1H). This product was used in Examples7, 9, 13, 14 and 15.

Preparation C Synthesis of 4-(4-Pyridyl)-N-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-PyridiniumChloride

An oven-dried, 100-mL round bottom flask was cooled under argon, fittedwith a magnetic stirring bar, and charged with 4,4′-dipyridyl (12.50 g,80 mmols). The flask was sealed with a septum and charged with CH₃OH (20mL). The homogenous solution was stirred at room temperature while4-(chloromethyl)styrene (2.82 mL, 20 mmols) was added dropwise viasyringe. After stirring the solution at room temp for 48 hours, thesolvent was removed in vacuo. Dry tetrahydrofuran (50 mL) was added tothe reaction flask via cannula and the mixture stiffed for three days,at which point the stirring was stopped, the solids allowed to settle,and the solvent was removed as much as possible via cannula. Thisprocess was repeated two more times, in each case reducing the mixingtime to 24 hours. After the third trituration the mixture was filteredunder nitrogen and washed with dry diethyl ether (200 mL) via cannula.The cake was dried by passing dry nitrogen through it under pressure for1 hour, and finally by applying vacuum (0.1 Torr, 1 h). Yield: 5.56 g,18 mmols (90%), ¹HNMR (D₂0, ppm); 9.12 (d, 2H), 8.86, (d, 2H), 8.48 (d,2H), 7.98 (d, 2H), 7.67 (d, 2H), 7.57 (d, 2H), 6.87 (dd, 1H), 5.92 (s,2H), 5.45 (d, 1H). This compound was used in Examples 5 and 6.

Preparation D Synthesis of N-Benzyl-4-Ethenyl-4,7-PhenanthroliniumChloride (4,7-Phen SV)

A flame dried, side armed 100-mL round bottom flask, equipped with amagnetic stirring bar, was cooled under argon and charged with4,7-phenanthroline (2.14 g, 11.86 mmols). The flask was equipped with areflux condenser attached to an argon (g) line and charged with4-(chloromethyl)styrene (0.905 g, 0.836 mL, 5.93 mmols) and anhydrousCH₃CN (20 mL) through the side arm. The solution was heated to refluxunder argon (g) for 17 h, then cooled to room temperature andprecipitated with diethyl ether (30 mL). The suspension was allowed tosettle and the supernatant removed via cannula. The remaining residuealong with 15 mL of solvent was cannulated into a centrifuge tube,triturated with acetone (20 mL), and centrifuged (process repeated 4times). The brownish/pink solid was triturated with diethyl ether (3×20mL) and dried under reduced pressure. Yield: 0.376 g, 1.13 mmols (19%).¹H NMR (250 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): 5.266 (d, 1H, 11 Hz), 5.80 (d, 1H, J=17.75Hz), 6.482 (s, 2H), 6.708 (dd, 1H, J₁=1 Hz, J₂=17.75 Hz), 7.374 (d, 1H,J=8 Hz), 7.496 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz) 8.00, (dd, 1H, J₁=4 Hz, J₂=8.5 Hz), 8.453(dd, 1H, J₁=6 Hz, J₂=8.5 Hz), 8.60 (d, 1H, J=10 Hz), 8.697 (d, 1H, J=10Hz), 9.20 (d, 1H, J=4 Hz), 9.50 (d, 1H, J=8.25 Hz), 9.65 (d, 1H, J=5.75Hz), 10.188 (d, 1H, J=8.5 Hz). ¹³C NMR (62.5 MHz, CD₃OD); 62.40,121.344, 124.899, 126.023, 128.454, 129.031, 130.778, 132.161, 133.893,134.242, 137.205, 139.848, 140.410, 140.699, 144.041, 147.976, 149.541,154.661.

This compound was used in Examples 25.

EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of 4,4′-N,N′-Bis-(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)Dipyridinium Dibromide

An oven-dried, 50-mL centrifuge tube was cooled under argon, fitted witha magnetic stirring bar, and charged with 4,4′-bipyridyl (0.469 g, 3mmols). The tube was sealed with a septum and charged with CH₃OH (7 mL).The homogenous solution was stirred at room temperature while freshlyprepared dimethyl-(3-bromomethyl)-benzeneboronate (1.82 g, 7.5 mmols)was added via syringe. After stirring the solution for 15 hours, thereaction vessel was centrifuged (4 min at 3200 RPM) and the CH₃OHcannulated to a separate flask. The remaining yellow solid wastriturated with acetone:water (24:1, V/V, 25 mL), stirred vigorously ona vortex mixer and centrifuged. The acetone solution was removed bycannula and the trituration process repeated two more times. The solidwas then triturated with diethyl ether using the same process. The paleyellow solid, in the centrifuge tube, was then dried on the high vacuum(0.6 torr, 2 hr). Yield: 0.956 g, 1.63 mmols (54%). MP:decomposition >230° C. ¹H-NMR (D₂O, ppm): 6.093 (s, 4H), 7.715, (dd, 2H,J₁=7.5 Hz, J₂=7.5 Hz), 7.788 (d, 1H, J=7.5 Hz), 7.984 (s, 1H), 8.002 (d,1H, J=7.5 Hz), 8.662 (d, 4H, J=7 Hz), 9.293 (d, 4H, J=7 Hz). ¹¹B-NMR(CH₃OH, ppm): 29 (s).

This compound was used in Examples 16-18 and FIG. 6 below.

EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis of 4,4′-N,N′-Bis-(Benzyl-4-Boronic Acid)Dipyridinium Dibromide

An oven-dried, 50-mL centrifuge tube was cooled under argon, fitted witha magnetic stirring bar, and charged with 4,4′-dipyridyl (0.234 g, 1.5mmols). The tube was sealed with a septum and charged with anhydrousCH₃OH (7 mL). The homogenous solution was stirred at room temperaturewhile freshly prepared dimethyl-(4-bromomethyl)-benzeneboronate (1.09 g,4.5 mmols) was added via syringe. After stirring the solution for 15hours, the reaction vessel was centrifuged (4 min at 3200 RPM) and theCH₃OH cannulated to a separate flask. The remaining yellow solid wastriturated with acetone:water (24:1, V/V, 25 mL), stirred vigorously ona vortex mixer, and centrifuged. The acetone solution was removed bycannula and the trituration process repeated two more times. The solidwas then triturated with diethyl ether using the same process. The paleyellow solid, in the centrifuge tube, was then dried under reducedpressure (0.6 torr, 2 hr). Yield: 0.723 g, 1.63 mmols (82%). MP:decomposition greater than 230° C. ¹H-NMR (D₂O ppm): 6.116 (s, 4H),7.670 (d, 4H, J=8.25 Hz), 8.017 (d, 4H, J=8.25 Hz), 8.698 (d, 4H, J=6.5Hz), 9.325 (d, 4H, J=6.5 Hz). ¹¹B-NMR (CH₃OH, ppm): 29 (s). See Examples17 and 18 and FIG. 6.

EXAMPLE 3 Synthesis of 4,4′-N,N′-Bis-(Benzyl-2-Boronic Acid)Dipyridinium Dibromide

(a) An oven-dried, 50-mL centrifuge tube was cooled under argon andfitted with a magnetic stirring bar. 4,4′-Bipyridyl (1.5 mmol, 0.234 g)was weighed out into the tube which was then sealed with a septum andcharged with CH₃OH (7 mL). The homogenous solution was stirred at roomtemperature while mixing. Freshly prepareddimethyl-(2-bromomethyl)benzeneboronate (4.5 mmols, 1.2 mL, 1.09 g) wasadded via syringe to the reaction tube and the resulting brown/orangesolution was stirred at room temperature (ambient) for 15 hrs. Thereaction vessel was then centrifuged (4 min at 3200 RPM) and the CH₃OHcannulated to a separate flask. The remaining yellow solid wastriturated with diethyl ether (25 mL), stirred vigorously using a vortexmixer, and centrifuged. The ether solution was removed by cannula andthe trituration process repeated three more times. The pale yellowsolid, in the centrifuge tube, was then dried under reduced pressure(0.6 torr, 2 hr). The yield was 70%. ¹HNMR (D₂O, ppm): 6.21 (s, 2H),7.72, (m, 3H), 7.91 (d, 1H), 8.60 (d, 2H), 9.18 (d, 2H). ¹¹BNMR (CH₃OH,ppm) 30.2 (broad s).

This compound was found to quench the fluorescence of the dye of Example8 and to respond to glucose. See Example 17.

EXAMPLE 4 Synthesis of 1,7-N,N′-Bis(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-Phenanthrolinium Dibromide

An oven-dried, 50-mL centrifuge tube was cooled under argon, fitted witha magnetic stirring bar, and charged with 1,7-phenanthroline (0.288 g,1.6 mmols). The tube was then sealed with a septum, charged with CH₃OH(4 mL), and freshly prepared dimethyl-(3bromomethyl)-benzeneboronate(0.972 g, 4 mmols) was added via syringe. The homogenous solution wasstirred at room temperature for 15 hrs, and then refluxed for 2 hrs. Thereaction mixture was cooled to room temperature under argon and theCH₃OH was removed in vacuo. The yellow/orange solid was trituratedovernight with acetone:water (40 mL, 24:1, V/V), then with diethyl ether(2×40 mL). The suspension was filtered through a glass-fritted funnel(medium), and the solid isolated under argon. Yield: 0.495 g, 0.812mmols (51%). MP: >230° C. ¹H-NMR (D₂O, ppm): 6.504 (1H), 7.638 (1H),8.025 (m, 2H), 8.2505 (d, 1H, 8.5 Hz), 8.483 (m, 6H) 8.738 (d, 1H, J=8.5Hz), 9.315 (d, 1H, J=5.75 Hz), 9.605 (d, 1H, J=5.75 Hz), 10.098 (d, 1H,J=8.5 Hz) 10.269 (d, 111, J=8.5 Hz). ¹¹B-NMR (CH₃OH, ppm): 28 (s).

This compound was found to quench the fluorescence of the dye of Example8 and respond to glucose.

EXAMPLE 5 Synthesis of 4-N-(Benzyl-4-BoronicAcid)-4′-N′-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)Dipyridinium Bromide Chloride (P-SBBV)

An oven-dried, 50-mL centrifuge tube was cooled under argon, fitted witha magnetic stirring bar, and charged with4-(4-pyridyl)-N-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-pyridinium chloride (0.463 g, 1.5mmols). The tube was sealed with a septum and charged with acetonitrile(6 mL). The resulting pink/orange suspension was stirred at roomtemperature while freshly prepareddimethyl-(4-bromomethyl)-benzeneboronate (0.486 g, 2 mmols) was addedvia syringe. After stirring the suspension for 23 hrs the reactionvessel was centrifuged (4 min at 3200 RPM) and the acetonitrilecannulated to a separate flask. The remaining yellow solid wastriturated with acetone:water (25 mL, 24:1, V/V), stirred vigorously ona vortex mixer, and centrifuged. The acetone solution was removed bycannula and the trituration process repeated two more times. The solidwas then triturated with diethyl ether using the same process. Thebright yellow solid, in the centrifuge tube, was then dried underreduced pressure (0.5 torr, 1 hr). Yield: 0.43 1 g, 0.824 mmols (55%).MP: >200° C. ¹H-NMR (D₂O ppm): 5.405 (d, 1H, J=11.5 Hz), 5.929 (d, 2H,J=17.5 Hz), 5.934 (s, 2H), 5.981 (s, 2H), 6.832 (dd, 2H, J,=17.5 Hz,J2=1 I Hz), 7.523 (d, 2H, J=9 Hz), 7.562 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 7.626 (d, 2H,J=8 Hz), 7.8815 (d, 2H, J=8.5 Hz), 8.566 (dd, 4H, J,=3.6 Hz, J2=1.5 Hz),9.1855 (dd, 4H, J,=6.5 Hz, J2=6 Hz). ¹¹B-NMR (CH₃OH, ppm): 28 (s).

This compound was used to quench the fluorescence of the dye of Example8 and to respond to glucose.

EXAMPLE 6 Synthesis of 4-N-(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-4′-N′-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-Dipyridinium Bromide Chloride (M-SBBV)

An oven-dried, 50-mL centrifuge tube was cooled under argon, fitted witha magnetic stirring bar, and charged with4-(4-pyridyl)-N-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-pyridinium chloride (0.463 g, 1.5mmols). The tube was sealed with a septum and charged with acetonitrile(6 mL). The resulting pink/orange suspension was stirred at roomtemperature while freshly prepareddimethyl-(3-bromomethyl)-benzeneboronate (0.486 g, 2 mmols) was addedvia syringe. After stirring the suspension for 23 hours the reactionvessel was centrifuged (4 min at 3200 RPM) and the acetonitrilecannulated to a separate flask. The remaining yellow solid wastriturated with acetone:water (25 mL, 24:1, V/V), stirred vigorously ona vortex mixer, and allowed to sit overnight. The acetone solution wasremoved by cannula and the solid then triturated with diethyl ether(3×25 mL); each time the triturant was removed via cannula. Theremaining bright yellow solid, in the centrifuge tube, was then driedunder reduced pressure (0.015 torr, 3 hr). Yield: 0.584 g, 1.12 mmols(74%). MP: decomposition greater than 150° C. ¹H-NMR (D₂O ppm): 5.5165(d, 1H, J=10.75 Hz), 6.0435 ppm (d, 1H, J=17.8 Hz), 6.095 (s, 2H), 6.049(s, 2H), 6.9433 (dd, 1H, J₁=11.5 Hz, J₂=17.9 Hz), 7.626 (m, 4H), 7.724(m, 2H), 7.979 (s, 1H), 7.994 (d, 1H, J=7.5 Hz), 8.648 (d, 4H), 9.280(d, 4H). ¹¹B-NMR (CH₃OH, ppm): 28 (s).

This compound was used to make the polymers of Examples 10, 11, 12, and14.

EXAMPLE 7 Synthesis of8-Acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-Tris-(Methoxypolyethoxyethyl (N˜125)Sulfonamide)

A 250-mL round bottom flask was equipped with a magnetic stirring barand charged with 170 mL of dry tetrahydrofuran (THF).Methoxy-polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-amine (5.65 g, 5630 g/mol, 1 mmol) wasadded to the flask along with 0.5 grams of granular CaH₂. The mixturewas heated to 30° C. for 24 hr with stirring. Diisopropylethylamine (0.6mL, 129.24 MW, 0.742 g/mL, 3.4 mmol) was added to the flask and themixture allowed to stir for an additional hour. The flask was cooled toroom temperature and filtered through an air sensitive glass frittedfiltration apparatus to remove excess CaH₂ and Ca(OH)₂. The THF solutionwas placed back into a 250 mL round bottom flask with magnetic stir barand heated to 30° C. with stirring. 8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonylchloride (0.185 g, 624.8 g/mol, 0.3 mmol) was added to the warm THFsolution. The solution immediately turned a deep blue color and faded toa red wine color over 15 min. The reaction was stirred at 30° C. for 24hr. The solvent was removed by rotary evaporation and the residue wasdissolved in 100 mL of 1 M HCl. The aqueous solution was extracted withmethylene chloride (3×100 mL). The methylene chloride fractions werecombined and the solvent was removed by reduced pressure evaporation toyield compound as a red solid. Yield: about 5.5 g (97%). FTIR (KBrpellet, cm⁻¹): 842, 963, 1060, 1114, 1150, 1242, 1280, 1343, 1360, 1468,1732, 2525, 2665, 2891. 1. This product was then used in Examples 8 and11, 16 and 17.

EXAMPLE 8 8-Hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-Tris-(Methoxypolyethoxyethyl(N˜125) Sulfonamide)

8-Acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N-tris-(methoxypolyethoxyethyl (n˜125)sulfonamide) (5.5 g, 0.32 mmols) was dissolved in 100 mL of 1 M NaOH andstirred for 2 hr. The aqueous solution was neutralized to pH 7 andextracted with methylene chloride (3×100 mL). The methylene chloridefractions were combined and reduced to approximately 10 mL by rotaryevaporation. The concentrated methylene chloride solution was then addeddropwise into 400 mL of vigorously stirred diethyl ether in anErlenmeyer flask. The diethyl ether was filtered using a Buchner funnel.The product was isolated as an orange powder. Yield: 5.425 g, 0.31 mmol(94%). FTIR (KBr pellet, cm⁻¹): 842, 963, 1060, 1110, 1150, 1242, 1281,1343, 1360, 1468, 2888. This compound was identified as thetrisubstituted sulfonamide derivative by Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR). The sulfonic acid IR stretch occurs at 1195.7 cm⁻¹. There is no1195.7 cm⁻¹ stretch in the FTIR of this compound. Instead a stretch of1110 cm⁻¹, assigned to the sulfonamide, is observed. When dissolved inpH 7.4 buffer, the fluorescence of this compound is quenched by methylviologen with an apparent Stern-Volmer quenching constant of 319M⁻¹.

This was quenched by the products of Examples 1, 2 and 3 and used inExamples 11, 16, 17, 18 and 19.

EXAMPLE 98-Acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-Tris(Methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide)(Acetoxy-HPTS-MA)

A 100-mL round bottom flask was charged withaminopropyl-3-methacrylamide-HCl salt (2.68 g, 15 mmol) and 50-mL ofacetonitrile to give a white suspension. Water was added dropwise whilestirring until all of the white suspension had disappeared producing twolayers. Potassium carbonate was added and the suspension was stirred for15 minutes. The supernatant was transferred to a 500-mL round bottomflask and the potassium carbonate was washed with 50-mL acetonitrile,which was then combined in the 500-mL round bottom flask. A yellowsolution of acetoxy-HPTS-Cl (1.03 g, 1.8 mmol), 200-mL acetonitrile, and20-mL dichloromethane was added under argon to the 500-mL round bottomflask containing the free amine in acetonitrile causing the solution toturn dark red with precipitate formation. The solution was stirred for 1hr and the supernatant was transferred and concentrated under vacuum togive a dark residue. The residue was extracted with water (1000 mL) anda 50:50 acetonitrile/ethyl acetate solution (700 mL). The organicextract was washed with an additional 1000 mL water. The organic extractwas dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated on a rotary evaporatorto give a red residue, which was dissolved in methanol. The methanolsolution was concentrated and the resulting red residue was dried underhigh vacuum to give a red solid, which was the unprotected HPTS-MA.Yield: 420 mg, 0.5 mmol, 28%. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, D⁴-methanol, ppm): 1.617(p, J=6.5 Hz, 8H), 1.781 (s, 3H), 1.767 (s, 6H), 2.934 (p, J=6.5 Hz,9H), 3.158 (mult. 8H), 5.211 (t, J=1.5 Hz), 5.229 (t, J=1.5 Hz), 5.488(s, 1H), 5.510 (s, 2H), 8.290 (s, 1H), 8.837 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 8.913(d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 8.988 (d, J=1.5 Hz 1H), 9.201 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 111),9.222 (s, 1H). Unprotected HPTS-MA (100 mg, 0.1 mmol) was then suspendedin 10 ml, acetic anhydride and a catalytic amount of sodium acetate wasadded and the suspension refluxed for 2 hr. Acetic anhydride and aceticacid were removed under vacuum and the resulting brown residue wasextracted with 20 mL acetonitrile. The extract was dripped into 150 mL,diethyl ether causing the precipitation of a brown solid. Yield: 75 mg,0.09 mmol (86%).

This monomer was used in Examples 13, 14 and 15.

EXAMPLE 10 Copolymerization of 4-N-(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-4′-N′-(Benzyl-4 Ethenyl)-Dipyridinium Bromide Chloride into aWater-Soluble Polymer

A 50-mL cone-shaped round bottom flask was charged with 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (1.50 g, 11.5 mmols), 4-N-(benzyl-3-boronicacid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)dipyridinium bromide chloride (0.1 g,0.191 mmols), and 3-((methacryloylamino)propyl)) trimethyl ammoniumchloride (0.50 g, 2.27 mmols). After the flask was sealed with a septum,the solution was vigorously stirred on a vortex mixer. The vessel wasthen charged with isopropyl alcohol:water (8 mL, 1:1, V/V) anddeoxygenated with argon for one hr. Concurrently, in a separate 100-mL,side-armed round bottom flask, a solution of 2,2′azobisisobutyronitrile(AIBN, 100 mg, 0.609 mmols) in isopropyl alcohol:water (5 mL) wasprepared. The flask was equipped with a magnetic stir bar and acondenser, and deoxygenated with argon for one hour. The entiremanometric solution was taken-up by syringe and 1 mL was added, throughthe sidearm, to the AIBN solution. The AIBN reaction vessel was thenplaced in a 70° C. oil bath and the remaining manometric mixture addedvia syringe pump over 6 hrs (1.5 mL/hr). The resulting orange solutionwas cooled to room temperature under argon and the solvent carefullyremoved in vacuo. The amorphous solid was dissolved in CH₃OH (20 mL) andquantitatively transferred to a centrifuge tube via cannula. Afteraddition of diethyl ether (20 mL) and formation of a white precipitate,the product was isolated via centrifugation (4 min at 3200 RPM). It waswashed with diethyl ether (30 mL), dried under reduced pressure (0.5torr 3 hrs), and isolated under an inert atmosphere of argon. Yield:1.345 g, (67 Wt %). The amount of viologen moiety incorporated into thepolymer was determined, by UV absorbance, to be greater than 99% of theexpected value.

This product was used in Example 19.

EXAMPLE 11 Semi-IPN: The Thin Film Copolymerization of4-N-(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-4′-N-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-Dipyridinium BromideChloride Using HPTS-PEG

A 10-mL volumetric flask was charged with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate(3.525 g, 27.08 mmols), 4-N-(benzyl-3-boronicacid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-dipyridinium bromide chloride (0.039 g,0.075 mmols), 3-((methacryloylamino)propyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride(0.3 g, 1.36 mmols), polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (1.11 g, 1.11mmols), 2,2′-azobis (2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane)dihydrochloride (0.025g, 0.077 mmols), and8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris-(methoxypolyethoxyethyl (n˜125)sulfonamide) (0.013 g, 7.5×10⁻⁴ mmols); it was filled to the 10-mL markwith isopropyl alcohol:water (1:1, V/V). After the solution wasvigorously stirred on the vortex mixer it was transferred, via pipette,to a 50-mL, cone-shaped round bottom flask and deoxygenated with argonfor one hour. The monomer solution was taken-up by syringe and thesyringe attached to the polymerization chamber. The solution was theninserted into the cell, under argon, to fill the entire cavity of thecell. The chamber was sealed with Teflon plugs and wrapped in twoZIPLOC® freezer bags. The entire unit was submerged in a 40° C.waterbath and heated for 17 hrs. The polymerization chamber was removedfrom the bath and the bags, and subsequently disassembled to afford athin green polymeric film. The polymeric film was leached and storedunder pH 7.4 phosphate-buffer. This product was used in Example 12.

*The polymerization chamber was comprised of (1) An IR cell-holder: twostainless steel plates fashioned to contain the cell and the LUER LOC®ports; (2) A Cell: two glass plates containing a TEFLON® 0.02″ spacer inbetween, with holes drilled through the top plate and spacer; and (3) AGasket: a precision-cut rubber spacer used to the seal the cell to thecell-holder.

EXAMPLE 12 Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of Semi-IPN Copolymer of4-N-(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-4′-N′-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-DipyridiniumBromide Chloride (M-SBBV) Using HPTS-PEG

A 10-mm path length, 5-mL glass cuvet, which was open on both sides wasequipped with two disposable polyethylene cuvet caps. Holes were drilledthrough the caps such that the threads of a 10/32 standard thread, ⅛″I.D. hose end adapter were screwed into place. A thin sheet of plasticwas then cut into a 35×9 mm rectangle and a window 6×15 mm was cut outof the center. Two fittings were constructed from small septa to putpressure on the plastic mask to hold the polymer in place within thecuvet. The height of the septa was 9 mm. The flow-through-cell was thenassembled such that the polymer film was in the center of the cuvet andthe plastic mask directly over it, effectively framing the film with itswindow. The pressure fittings were then put in place using tweezers, oneat the bottom of the cell and one at the top. The outside walls of thecuvet caps, which sits inside the cuvet, were coated with vacuum greaseand inserted into the cuvet to seal the cell. The cell was placed into aPerkin-Elmer LS50B spectrophotometer equipped with a front surfaceadapter. The cell was oriented so that its side, touching the polymer,was facing the excitation beam of the instrument (face-first in thefront surface adapter). ⅛″ TYGON® PTFE tubing was connected to the hoseadapters of the flow-through-cell. The orientation of the front surfaceadapter was optimized so that the emission detector was sensing only thesurface of the polymer. A peristaltic pump was used to circulate pH 7.4phosphate buffer (ionic strength 0.1) through the cell at a rate of 30mL per minute. The time drive function of the Perkin-Elmer LS50Bsoftware was used to acquire fluorescence intensity readings every tensec for an integration time of two sec. The excitation frequency was setat 475 nm and the emission slit width at 536 nm. The excitation andemission slit widths were set at 2.5 nm. A base line value of 358(fluorescence intensity) was established with buffer solution. Theperistaltic pump was stopped and the pumping solution was changed to1800 mg/dl glucose in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer.

The fluorescence intensity increased 127 units to a value of 485,corresponding to a 35% signal increase (S/N ratio=72). After switchingback to buffer the signal approached the expected baseline value of 358.

EXAMPLE 138-Hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-Tris(Methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide)Hydrogel Polymer

A 16-mm NMR tube modified with a female 14/20 ground glass joint wascharged with a mixture of isopropyl alcohol/water (1:1, 1.5 mL), HEMA(750 mg), polyethylene glycoldimethacrylate (PEGDMA, n˜25) (200 mg),3-(methacrylamido) propyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (TMAC) (50 mg),8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide)(acetoxy-HPTS-MA) (1 mg, 1.2×10⁻⁶ mols), and(2,2′-azobis-2(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane) hydrochloride (VA-044 freeradical initiator) (5 mg). All solids were dissolved with the aid of avortex mixer. The NMR tube was then fitted with a male 14/20 groundglass joint TEFLON® stop cock to vacuum adapter. The mixture was thende-oxygenated via 4 freeze/pump/thaw cycles (−78° C., 1 torr, 5 min. andthawed under nitrogen. The NMR tube was then heated in a water bath at40° C. (0.5° C. for 12 hr. The glass NMR tube was carefully broken tofree the polymer plug. The polymer was dialyzed in 200 mL of de-ionizedwater with triethylamine (5 drops) (de-ionized water and amine solutionwas changed every 24 hr for 7 days) to remove the acetoxy protectinggroup on the acetoxy-HPTS-MA. The resulting polymer plug was cut intoabout 5-mm slices and analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Excitation and emission spectra of the gels are substantially identicalto spectra obtained for the PEG adduct (Example 12). Samples of thepolymer gel suspended in pH 7.4 buffer are visibly fluorescent whenexamined in daylight. The fluorescence is noticeably diminished whenm-SBBV, o-SBBV, or p-SBBV was added to the aqueous phase. Thefluorescence was recovered when glucose is added to the solution.Similar gels were prepared with dye concentrations of 0.05 to 5 mg/gpolymer (dry weight). All were yellow-green to orange in color and werevisibly fluorescent when examined in day (natural) light.

The fluorescence was quenched when the hydrogels were exposed to aqueouso-, m-, and p-BBV (benzyl boronic acid viologens).

EXAMPLE 14 IPN: Copolymerization of 4-N-(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-4′-N′-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-Dipyridinium Bromide Chloride (M-SBBV)Using HPTS-MA Polymer

Manometric quenched solution: A 10-mL volumetric flask was charged with2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (27.08 mmols, 3.525 g),4-N-(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-4′-N′(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-dipyridinium bromidechloride (0.197 mmols, 0.103 g), 3((methacryloylamino)propyl) trimethylammonium chloride (1.36 mmols, 0.30 g), polyethylene glycoldimethacrylate (1.11 mmols, 1.11 g), and 2,2′-azobis(2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane)dihydrochloride (0.077 mmols, 0.025 g); itwas filled to the 10-mL mark with isopropyl alcohol:water (1:1, V/V).The solution was vigorously stirred on the vortex mixer untilhomogenous.

Polymeric Dye Powder: A 10-mL volumetric flask was charged with2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (27.08 mmols, 3.525 g),3-((methacryloylamino)propyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (1.36 mmols,0.3 g), polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (1.11 mmols, 1.11 g),2,2′-azobis (2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane)dihydrochloride (0.077 mmols,0.025 g), and8-Acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide)(7.5×10⁻⁴ mmols, 6.6×10⁻⁴ g); it was filled to the 10-mL mark withisopropyl alcohol:water (1:1, V/V). After the solution was vigorouslystirred on the vortex mixer it was transferred, via pipette, to a 50-mLround-bottom flask and the flask was sealed with a rubber septum. It wasdeoxygenated with argon for 30 minutes. The manometric solution wastaken-up by syringe and the needle was capped with a rubber stopper. Itwas then transferred to an argon-filled glove box along with thepolymerization chamber. The syringe was attached to the polymerizationchamber and the solution was inserted into the cell, under argon, tofill the entire cavity. The chamber was sealed with TEFLON® plugs andwrapped in a ZIPLOC® freezer bag. The entire unit was transferred to anoven and heated to 40° C. for 14 hrs. The polymerization chamber wasremoved from the oven and the bags, and subsequently disassembled toafford a thin green polymeric film. The film was leached with 500 mL ofdistilled water (pH 5) for six hours; fresh water was replaced every twohours. The thin film was then dried under reduced pressure (40° C., 20in Hg, 3 hours), brought to −196° C. and crushed into a fine powderusing a mortar and pestle.

Interpenetrating network copolymer: A 50-mL round-bottom flask wascharged with manometric quenched-solution (5.2 mL) and polymericdye-powder (0.169 g). The mixture was vigorously stirred on the vortexmixer for 10 minutes to allow the liquid to be imbibed by the dyeparticles and then deoxygenated with argon for 15 minutes. Theheterogeneous solution was taken-up by syringe and the needle was cappedwith a rubber stopper. It was then transferred to an argon-filled glovebox along with the polymerization chamber* (*See Example 11). Thesyringe was attached to the polymerization chamber and the solution wasinserted into the cell, under argon, to fill the entire cavity. Thechamber was sealed with TEFLON® plugs and wrapped in a ZIPLOC® freezerbag. The entire unit was transferred to an oven and heated to 40° C. for14 hrs. The polymerization chamber was removed from the oven and thebag, and subsequently disassembled to afford a thin, orange,gel-integrated polymeric film. The film was placed in a pH 8-NaOHsolution for 12 hours, then leached and stored in pH 7.4phosphate-buffer.

This product was used in Example 20.

EXAMPLE 15 Two Component System: The Thin Film Copolymerization of 4-N(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-4′-N-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-Dipyridinium BromideChloride (M-SBBV) Using HPTS-MA

A 10-mL volumetric flask was charged with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate(3.525 g, 27.08 mmols), 4-N-(benzyl-3-boronicacid)-4′-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl)-dipyridinium bromide chloride (0.039 g,0.075 mmols), 3-((methacryloylamino)propyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride(0.3 g, 1.36 mmols), polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (1.11 g, 1.11mmols), 2,2′azobis (2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane)dihydrochloride (0.025g, 0.077 mmols) and8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide)(6.6×10⁻⁴ g, 7.5×10⁻⁴ nmols) it was filled to the 10-mL mark withisopropyl alcohol:water (1:1, V/V). After the solution was vigorouslystirred on a vortex mixer it was transferred, via pipette, to a 50-mL,cone-shaped round bottom flask and the flask was sealed with a rubberseptum; it was deoxygenated with argon for 30 minutes. The manometricsolution was taken-up by syringe and the needle was capped with a rubberstopper. It was then transferred to an argon-filled glove box along withthe polymerization chamber* (*See Example 11). The syringe was attachedto the polymerization chamber and the solution was inserted into thecell, under argon, to fill the entire cavity. The chamber was sealedwith TEFLON® plugs and wrapped in two ZIPLOC® freezer bags. The entireunit was submerged in a 40° C. water-bath and heated for 12 hrs. Thepolymerization chamber was removed from the bath and the bags, andsubsequently disassembled to afford a thin green polymeric film. Thepolymeric film was placed in a pH 8 NaOH solution for 12 hours, thenleached and stored in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. This product was used inExample 21.

EXAMPLE 16 Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of4,4′-N,N′-Bis(Benzyl-2,3, or 4-Boronic Acid)-Bipyridinium Dibromide with8-Hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-Tris-(Methoxypolyethoxyethyl (N˜125)Sulfonamide) HPTS-PEG

A stock solution of HPTS-PEG (10 mL, 5×10⁻⁵ M) was prepared in a 10-mLvolumetric flask with pH 7.4 phosphate buffer (0.1 ionic strength).Similarly, a m-BBV solution (25 mL, 0.0025 M) was prepared. Sevendifferent solutions containing HPTS-PEG and m-BBV were then prepared inpH 7.4 phosphate buffer as described below in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Volume HPTS- Volume Volume Final Final PEG standard standardbuffer HPTS-PEG BBV (m-BBV)(M) (M) (mL) (mL) (M) (mg/DL) 1 0.00 4.001.00E−05 0.00E+00 1 0.20 3.80 1.00E−05 1.005-04 1 0.30 3.70 1.00E−051.505-04 1 0.50 3.50 1.00E−05 2.505-04 1 1.00 3.00 1.00E−05 5.005-04 11.50 2.50 1.00E−05 7.505-04 1 2.00 2.00 1.00E−05 1.005-03

Each sample was then analyzed on the Perkin-Elmer LS50-B luminescencespectrometer. The instrumental settings were:

Excitation Wavelength—473 nm

Emission Wavelength Range—480-630 nm

Excitation Slit Width—0 nm (Instrumental dependent minimum)

Emission Slit Width—0 nm (Instrumental dependent minimum)

Optical filter—none

Scan Speed—100 nm/sec

The instrumental settings (slit widths, scan speed, optical filters,excitation wavelength, emission wavelength range) were held constantthroughout the series analysis. The emission fluorescence intensity wasthen quantified by integration (the trapezoidal rule approximationmethod) of the fluorescence intensity curve between 480 and 630 nm. Theapparent Stern-Volmer quenching constant was determined to be 520 M⁻¹(see FIG. 7).

EXAMPLE 17 Glucose Sensing Ability of 4,4′-N,N′-Bis(Benzyl-2,3 or4-Boronic Acid)-Bipyridinium Dibromide with8-Hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-Tris-Methoxypolyethoxyethyl (N˜125)Sulfonamide) (HPTS-PEG) Analyzed by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

(a) A stock solution of HPTS-PEG (10 mL, 5×10⁻⁵ M) was prepared in a10-mL volumetric flask with pH 7.4 phosphate buffer (0.1 ionicstrength). Similarly, a m-BBV solution (25 mL, 0.0025 M) and -D-Glucose(10 mL, 0.250 M) solution were prepared. Seven different solutionscontaining HPTS-PEG, M-BBV, and -D-Glucose were then prepared in pH 7.4phosphate buffer as described below in Table 3:

TABLE 3 Volume Volume Volume Volume Final Final Final HPTS-PEG m-BBVGlucose buffer (HPTS-PEG) (m-BBV) (Glucose) Stock (mL) stock (mL) Stock(mL) (mL) (M) (M) (mg/dL) 1 2 0.00 2.00 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 0.00 1 2 0.021.98 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 18.02 1 2 0.04 1.96 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 36.03 1 20.20 1.80 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 180.16 1 2 0.40 1.60 1.00E−05 1.00E−03360.32 1 2 1.00 1.00 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 900.80 1 2 2.00 0.00 1.00E−051.00E−03 1801.60

The pH of each sample was independently determined using a pH meter toassure that the pH was constant throughout the series to within 0.02 pHunits.

Each sample was then analyzed on the Perkin-Elmer LS50-B luminescencespectrometer. The instrumental settings were the same as Example 16.

The relative integrated values, were then used to construct acalibration curve: plotting F/F₀ vs. glucose concentration (mg/dL),where F₀ is the integrated fluorescence intensity of the first sample inTable 3 containing 0 mg/dL glucose.

(a) Evaluation of glucose sensitivity with HPTS-PEG. The glucose sensingability of benzyl viologen was compared to that of4,4′-N,N′-bis(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-bipyridinium dibromide in thepresence of HPTS-PEG dye. The apparent Stern-Volmer quenching constantfor benzyl viologen with HPTS-PEG was determined as described inProcedure A, and found to be 559M⁻¹. The glucose sensitivity of benzylviologen in the presence of HPTS-PEG was determined in the same manner.The signal from the benzyl viologen/HPTS-PEG solution did not respond tochanges in glucose concentration. The glucose sensitivity of4,4′-N,N′-bis(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-bipyridinium dibromide is shown inFIG. 5 together with the glucose sensitivity of benzyl viologen.

(b) Similarly, (a) is repeated except that the 4,4′-N,N′-Bis(benzyl-3-boronic acid)bipyridinium dibromide is replaced with4,4′-N,N′-bis-(benzyl-4-boronic acid) dipyridyl dibromide. The ortho andpara isomers were analyzed in the same way. The results for glucosesensitivity are comparable. The results are plotted in FIG. 6.

EXAMPLE 18 Comparison of Glucose Sensitivity of Benzyl Viologen vs.4,4′N,N′-Bis(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-Bipyridinium Dibromide with HPTS-PEG

The glucose sensing ability of benzyl viologen was compared to that of4,4′-N,N′-bis(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-bipyridinium dibromide in thepresence of HPTS-PEG dye. The apparent Stern-Volmer quenching constantfor benzyl viologen with HPTS-PEG was determined as described inProcedure A, and found to be 559 M⁻¹. The glucose sensitivity of benzylviologen in the presence of HPTS-PEG was determined as in example 17.The signal from the benzyl viologen/HPTS-PEG solution did not respond tochanges in glucose concentration. The glucose sensitivity of4,4′-N,N′-bis(benzyl-3-boronic acid)-bipyridinium dibromide, as found inExample 17, is shown in FIG. 5 together with the glucose sensitivity ofbenzyl viologen.

EXAMPLE 19 Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of Water Soluble Copolymerof 4-N-(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-4′-N′-(Benzyl-4 Ethynyl)-DipyridiniumBromide Chloride (M-SBBV)

m-SBBV (50 mL, 2.5 mM) copolymer from Example 10 was prepared in pH 7.4phosphate buffer and pH balanced (0.02 pH units) with NaOH solution. Sixdifferent solutions of poly m-SBBV (the analyte, 0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.25,0.50, 0.75, 1.0 mM) containing HPTS-PEG (dye, 1×10⁻⁵ M) were thenprepared and analyzed on the spectrofluorimeter. The analyte/dyesolutions were contained in a standard 10-mm path length, quartz cuvet,and the spectrofluorimeter was set to an excitation and emissionfrequency of 473 and 533, respectively. The excitation and emission slitwidths were set to 0 nm. After the fluorescence spectra were obtainedfor the solutions mentioned above, additional spectra of the analyte/dyesolutions were obtained in the presence and absence of glucose andfructose. The apparent differences in spectra were quantified as areasunder the curve. The difference in areas was then determined to berepresentative of the polymer response to glucose or fructose, e.g., inthe absence of glucose or fructose the representative area under thecurve was determined to be 26479.45. Upon addition of differentconcentrations of glucose, the areas changed accordingly as indicated inTable 4.

TABLE 4 Change in Fluorescence Intensity of 1.0 rnM poly m-SBBV/HPTS-PEGSolutions After Addition of Glucose; Represented as the Area Under theCurve (Glucose) (mg/dl) Area Under Curve 0 26479.45 18 26934.93 3627163.92 180 27988.86 360 28221.08 900 28810.57 1800 29434.23

Thus, the fluorescence intensity increase by 11% upon addition of 1800mg/dl of glucose and 14.6% upon addition of 1800 mg/dl of fructose.

EXAMPLE 20 Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of IPN: Copolymer of 4-N(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-4′-N′-Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-Dipyridinium BromideChloride (M-SBBV) Using Dispersed HPTS-MA Hydrogel

See Example 12 for procedures.

A peristaltic pump was used to circulate 7.4 phosphate buffer (ionicstrength 0.1) through the cell at a rate of 30 mL per minute.

The time drive function of the Perkin-Elmer LS50B software was used toacquire fluorescence intensity readings every ten seconds with anintegration time of two seconds. The excitation frequency was set at 475nm and the emission frequency was set at 536 nm. The excitation andemission slit width were set at 15 nm and 20 nm, respectively. A baseline value of 249 (fluorescence intensity) was established with buffersolution. The peristaltic pump was stopped and the pumping solution waschanged to 1800 mg/dl glucose in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer.

The fluorescence intensity increased 25 units to a value of 274,corresponding to a 10% signal increase (S/N ratio=43). After switchingback to buffer the signal approached the expected baseline value of 249.

EXAMPLE 21 Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of Two Component System:Thin Film Copolymer Hydrogel of 4-N-(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-4′-N′-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-Dipyridinium Bromide Chloride (M-SBBV)Using Acetoxy-HPTS-MA

See Example 12 for analysis procedures.

A peristaltic pump was used to circulate pH 7.4 phosphate buffer (ionicstrength 0.1) through the cell at a rate of 30 mL per minute. The timedrive function of the Perkin-Elmer LS50B software was used to acquirefluorescence intensity readings every ten sec with an integration timeof two sec. The excitation frequency was set at 475 nm and the emissionfrequency was set at 536 nm. The excitation and emission slit widthswere set at 7 nm. A base line value of 490 (fluorescence intensity) wasestablished with buffer solution. The peristaltic pump was stopped andthe pumping solution was changed to 400 mg/dl glucose in pH 7.4phosphate buffer.

The fluorescence intensity increased nine units to a value of 499,corresponding to a 1.5% signal increase (S/N ratio=6.5). The process ofswitching solutions was repeated. The buffer gave an expected base lineof 490. After changing to 1800 mg/dl glucose in pH 7.4-phosphate bufferthe fluorescence intensity rose 35 units to a value of 525,corresponding to a 7.6% signal increase (S/N=15.0). Finally, the baseline dropped to the expected value of 490 when buffer was pumped throughthe system.

EXAMPLE 22 Fluorescence Spectrophotometric Determination of GlucoseConcentration in an Aqueous Sample with 4,4′-N,N′-Bis(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-Bipyridinium Dibromide (M-BBV) and8-Hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-Tris-(Methoxypolyethoxyethyl (N˜125)Sulfonamide) (HPTS-PEG)

A stock solution of HPTS-PEG (10 ml, 5×10⁻⁵ M) is prepared in a 10-mLvolumetric flask with pH 7.4 phosphate buffer (0.1 ionic strength).Similarly, a m-BBV solution (25 mL, 0.0025 M) and -D-Glucose (10 mL,0.250 M) solution are prepared. Seven different solutions containingHPTS-PEG, m-BBV, and -D-Glucose are then prepared in pH 7.4 phosphatebuffer as described below in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Volume Volume Volume Volume Final Final Final HPTS-PEG m-BBVGlucose buffer (HPTS-PEG) (m-BBV) (Glucose) Stock (mL) stock (mL) Stock(mL) (mL) (M) (M) (mg/dL) 1 2 0.00 2.00 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 0.00 1 2 0.021.98 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 18.02 1 2 0.04 1.96 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 36.03 1 20.20 1.80 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 180.16 1 2 0.40 1.60 1.00E−05 1.00E−03360.32 1 2 1.00 1.00 1.00E−05 1.00E−03 900.80 1 2 2.00 0.00 1.00E−051.00E−03 1801.60

The pH of each sample is independently determined using a pH meter toassure that the pH is constant throughout the series to within ±0.02 pHunits.

See Example 17 for the analysis procedures.

Two mL of an aqueous glucose solution of unknown concentration areplaced in a 5-mL volumetric flask to which is added 1 mL of HPTS-PEGstock solution and 2 mL of m-BBV stock solution. The sample is mixed,placed into an appropriate cuvet and the fluorescence emission intensityof the sample is analyzed as previously described. The fluorescenceemission intensity is then quantified by integration (using thetrapezoidal rule approximation method) of the fluorescence emissionintensity curve between 480 and 630 nm. The glucose concentration forthe unknown can be determined by comparison of the quantified value forthe fluorescence emission intensity of the sample of unknown glucoseconcentration to the calibration curve on the y-axis and reading thecorresponding glucose concentration on the x-axis. The glucoseconcentration read off the calibration chart is then adjusted for the5/2 dilution factor to determine the glucose concentration of theunknown sample.

EXAMPLE 23 Fluorescence Spectrophotometric Determination of GlucoseConcentration in an Aqueous Sample with the Thin Film Copolymer of4-N-(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-4′-N′-(Benzyl-4 Ethenyl)-DipyridiniumBromide Chloride Using HPTS-PEG (Semi-IPN Thin Film)

The thin film copolymer is prepared as described in Example 11 andmounted in the fluorescence spectrometer as described in Example 12.Seven 100 ml stock solutions of -D-Glucose (0, 18, 36, 180, 360, 900,and 1800 mL/dL) are then prepared in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. The 7solutions are sequentially circulated through the flow through cell andthe fluorescence emission intensities analyzed as described in Example13. In each case the fluorescence emission intensity is allowed tostabilize prior to changing solutions. A calibration curve isconstructed plotting the stabilized fluorescence intensity values vs.the corresponding glucose concentrations. The pH value of an aqueousglucose sample of unknown concentration is determined with a pH meterand adjusted to pH 7.4±0.02 with concentrated acid or base. The unknownsample is circulated through the flow through cell and the fluorescenceemission intensity observed until it stabilizes. The glucoseconcentration for the unknown sample is circulated through the flowthrough cell and the fluorescence emission intensity observed until itstabilizes. The glucose concentration for the unknown can be determinedby comparison of its quantified value for the stable fluorescenceemission intensity to the calibration curve on the y-axis and readingthe corresponding glucose concentration on the x-axis. The finaldetermined glucose concentration for the unknown sample is adjusted forany dilution factor caused by adjusting the pH of the sample.

EXAMPLE 24 Synthesis of 4-N-(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-4,7-PhenanthroliniumBromide (4,7-Phen-m-BV

An oven-dried, 250-mL round bottom flask equipped with a magneticstirring bar was cooled under argon, and charged with 4,7-phenanthroline(6.16 g, 34.2 mmols). The flask was equipped with a reflux condenserattached to an argon (g) line and charged with N,N-dimethylformamide (80mL). The suspension was dissolved by heating and kept at 90° C. whilefreshly prepared dimethyl-(3-bromomethyl)-benzeneboronate (5.562 g, 22.8mmols) was added via syringe. The reaction was monitored by TLC andafter three hours showed the disappearance of the boronate ester. Thereaction mixture was cooled to room temperature under argon (g) and theorange suspension transferred, via cannula, to a moisture sensitivefritted funnel. The salmon colored solid was collected, washed withacetone (4×50 mL) and dried under reduced pressure overnight. Yield:3.652 g, 17.7 mmols (78%). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): 3.31 (s, 6H).6.487 (s, 2H), 7.427 (mult., 2H), 8.002 (dd, 1H, J=10 Hz), 8.451 (dd,1Hm J₁=6 Hz, J₂=8.5 Hz). ¹³C NMR (125 MHz, CD3OD): 61.48, 119.825,123.258, 124.429, 124.493, 128.279, 128.472, 129.194, 132.161, 132.707,133.990, 138.161, 139.107, 142.428, 146.358, 147.947, 153.080, 163.379.¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, MeOH, ppm): 27.4 (s, broad).

This compound was used in Example 31.

EXAMPLE 25 Synthesis of 4-N-(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-N-7-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-4,7-Phenanthrolinium Bromide Chloride(4,7-Phen-m-SBBV)

N-Benzyl-4-ethenyl-4,7-phenanthrolinium chloride (0.243 g, 0.730 mmols)was suspended in CH₃CN (2 mL) in a flame dried, sidearmed 25-mL roundbottom flask, equipped with a magnetic stirring bar and refluxcondenser. Dimethyl-(3-bromomethyl)-benzeneboronate (2.8 g, 11.5 mmols)was added via syringe through the side area and the suspension heated toreflux for 64 h under argon (g). The solution was cooled to roomtemperature and precipitated with diethyl ether (10 mL). The suspensionwas allowed to settle and the supernatant removed via cannula. Theremaining residue along with 3 mL of solvent was cannulated into acentrifuge tube, triturated with acetone water (50/50, V/V, 20 mL), andcentrifuged (process repeated four times). The beige/yellow solid wastriturated with diethyl ether (3×20 mL) and dried under reducedpressure. Yield: 0.354 g, 0.615 mmols (84%). ¹H NMR (250 MHz, D₂O, ppm):5.223 (d, 1H, 11.25 Hz), 5.715 (d, 1H, J=17.75 Hz), 6.434 (d, 4H), 6.605(dd, 1H, J₁=11.25 Hz, J₂=17.75 Hz), 7.446 (mult., 8H), 8.604 (mult.,1H), 8.92 (d, 2H, J=3.5 Hz), 9.698 (d, 2H, J=5.75 Hz), 10.214 (d, 2H,J=9 Hz). CH₃OH, ppm): 29.5 (s, broad). This compound was used in Example26.

EXAMPLE 26 Two Component System: The Thin Film Copolymerization of4-N-(Benzyl-3-Boronic Acid)-7-N′-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-4,7-PhenanthroliniumBromide Chloride (4,7-Phen-M-SBBV) and Acetoxy-HPTS-MA

A 10-mL volumetric flask was charged with 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate(3.525 g, 27.08 mmols), 4,7-phenanthrolinium-(benzyl-3-boronicacid)-N′-(benzyl-4-ethenyl) bromide chloride (m-SBBV) (0.086 g, 0.15mmols), 3-((methacryloylamino)propyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (0.3g, 1.36 mmols), polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (1.11 g, 1.11 mmols),2,2′-azobis (2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane)dihydrochloride (0.025 g,0.077 mmols) and8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-N,N′,N″-tris(methacrylamidopropylsulfonamide)(6.6×10⁻⁴ g, 7.5×10⁻⁴ mmols); it was filled to the 10-mL mark withisopropyl alcohol:water (1:1, V/V). After the solution was vigorouslystirred on a vortex mixer it was transferred to an argon-filled glovebox along with the polymerization chamber.* (*See Example 11.) Thesyringe was attached to the polymerization chamber and the solution wasinserted into the cell, under argon, to fill the entire cavity. Thechamber was sealed with LUER-LOC® plugs and wrapped in two ZIPLOC®Freezer bags. The entire unit was transferred to a 40° C. oven andheated for 18 hrs. The polymerization chamber was removed from the ovenand allowed to reach room temperature. It was disassembled and theorange film was leached with a pH 8-NaOH solution for 7 hourseffectively turning it green. The green film was stored in pH 7.4phosphate-buffer for 14 hrs.

This polymer is characterized in Example 32.

EXAMPLE 27 Preparation of8-Acetoxypyrene-1-Methacrylamido-propylsulfonamide-3,6-BiscarboxypropylDisulfonamide (HPTS-CO₂MA) Disodium Salt

A 100-ml round bottom flask equipped with a stir) bar and rubber septumwas charged with (1-acetoxy-3,6,8-pyrene trisulfonyl chloride) (0.5mmols 272.91 mg) and 40 ml of THF. A sample of sodium 4-amino-butyrate(1 mmol, 125.10 mg) was placed into a small test tube with 2 ml of THFand 0.26 ml deionized water. The suspension was vortexed for a shortperiod and taken up into a 3 ml plastic syringe. A sample ofN-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide HCl was placed into a small test tubewith 5 ml of THF and 0.55 ml of 1 M aqueous NaOH. The suspension wasvortexed for a short period and taken up into a 10 ml plastic syringe.The solution in the 100 mL round bottom flask was stirred rapidly andcharged with 5.2 ml deionized water, followed by dropwise addition ofthe sodium 4-amino-butyrate suspension to produce a bright red solutionwhich faded to yellow after 10 min. of stirring. The flask was thencharged with the N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide. HCl suspension bydropwise addition again producing a red solution, which faded to yellow.The solution was stirred for 4 hr. After this period, the solvent wasremoved by rotoevaporation and then high vacuum. The solid in the flaskwas taken up into a minimum amount of methanol and precipitated withdiethyl ether. The precipitate was collected by centrifugation and theprecipitation repeated to produce the final product(s). ¹H-NMR (500 MHz,CD₃OD ppm): 1.601 (M, J=8 Hz), 1.829 (Q, J=5 Hz), 2.392 (T, J=2.5 Hz),2.584 (S), 2.890 (T, J=7.5 Hz), 2.933 (T, MHz), 5.519 (1), J=176.5 Hz),8.306 (S), 8.526 (S), 8.616 (1), J=9.5 Hz), 9.062 (13, J=9.5 HZ), 9.130(13, J=9.5 HZ), 9.225 (1), J=10 Hz), 9.305 (S), 9.317 (S), 9.338 (S),9.358 (S), 9.440 (S). These are mixtures of specific isomers.

This product was used in Example 37.

EXAMPLE 28 Preparation of 8-Acetoxy-1,3,6-PyrenetricarboxypropylSulfonamide (Acetoxy-HPTS-CO₂)

A round bottom flask was charged with 4-aminobutyric acid (5.156 g, 50mmols). Methanol (50 mL) was added followed by sodium hydroxide (2 g, 50mmols). The solution was stirred until it became homogeneous, at whichpoint the methanol was removed on a rotary evaporator. The tan solid wasfurther dried by coevaporations with acetonitrile to remove water.

Preparation of HPTS-CO₂:

An oven dried round bottom flask was cooled under argon, fitted with amagnetic stirring bar, charged with 8-acetoxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulfonylchloride (460 mg, 0.83 mmols), and sealed with a septum. DMSO(20 mL) was added to give a homogenous yellow solution. A second ovendried round bottom flask was cooled under argon, fitted with a magneticstirring bar, charged with the 4-aminosodiumbutyrate (415 mg, 3.32mmols), and sealed with a septum. DMSO (20 mL) was added via doubleended needle, and after a few minutes of stirring, the first solutioncontaining 8-acetoxy-1,3,6-pyrene trisulfonylchloride in DMSO wascannulated in drop wise to give a deep red homogeneous solution. Aftersix hours approximately one third of the solution was removed, and DMSOwas distilled off under vacuum. The resulting brown material was washedwith a small amount of acetonitrile, which was filtered through cottonand dripped into Et₂O to precipitate a small amount (48 mg) of brown/redhygroscopic solid. ¹H-NMR (250 MHz, D₂O, ppm): 2 (p, 6H), 2.4 (t, 6H),2.61 (s, 3H), 3 (t, 6H), 8.2 (d, 1H), 8.4 (s, 1H), 8.6 (d, 1H), 9.2 (d,1H), 9.4 (s, 1H).

The acetoxy protecting groups was removed by treatment with aqueousNaOH. The pKa value was then determined to be around 6.8.

The hydroxyl-material was then used in a Stem-Volmer quenching studywith m-BBV and gave a Stern-Volmer quenching constant of 25419.

Following the Stern-Volmer study the HPTS-CO₂/m-BBV combination was usedin a glucose response study. This combination showed sensitivity tosmall changes in glucose concentration, with a fairly linear response toglucose in the physiological range (0-400 mg/dL).

A glucose concentration study was performed using HPTS-CO₂ with4,7-phen-BBV utilizing the Ocean Optics Inc. Model# SF 2000. FiberOptics, 380 Main Street, Dunedin, Fla. 34698, spectrophotometer forfluorescence with a computer controller ADC 1000 Rev B and again it wasobserved that increasing glucose concentration gave increasedfluorescence intensity.

EXAMPLE 29 Preparation of2-(3,5-Bis-Bromomethyl-Phenyl)-(1,3,2)-Dioxaborinane

Preparation of the Boronic Ester:

An oven dried round bottom flask with side arm was cooled undernitrogen, fitted with a magnetic stir bar, and charged with3,5-dimethylphenyl boronic acid, (5 g, 33 mmol) followed by pentane toproduce a 0.5M heterogeneous solution. The flask was then fitted with anoven-dried reflux condenser, sealed with septum, and purged withnitrogen. The solution was stirred while 1,3-propanediol (14.5 mL) wasadded via double ended needle, then the solution was heated to refluxuntil it became homogenous (approximately 20 min.). The solution wascooled to room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere. Magnesiumsulfate and calcium chloride were quickly added, the apparatus waspurged with nitrogen, and the solution was gently heated for 1 hr. Thesolution was then cooled to room temperature under nitrogen and stirringwas stopped. The supernate was transferred to a separate oven driedround bottom flask, which had been cooled under nitrogen and sealed witha septum. The remaining solids were washed with pentane, and this wascombined with the first pentane layer. The pentane was removed in vacuoon a rotary evaporator with an argon bleed to yield a yellow solid. MP:58-60° C.

Dibromination:

An oven dried round bottom flask with side arm was cooled undernitrogen, fitted with a magnetic stir bar, charged withN-bromosuccinimide (13.4 g, 73.26 mmol) and AIBN (1.094 g, 6.66 mmol),fitted with a reflux condenser, sealed with a septum, and purged withnitrogen for several minutes. The boronic ester was dissolved inchloroform (250 mL, distilled over CaH₂) and cannulated into the roundbottom containing N-bromosuccinimide and AIBN. The apparatus was ventedthrough a nitrogen bubbler attached to an HBr trap consisting of aqueoussodium sulfite, and the solution was heated to a vigorous reflux whilestirring. After 3.5 hr., the pale yellow solution was removed fromheating and cooled to room temperature under nitrogen. The solution wasconcentrated in vacuo on a rotary evaporator with an argon bleed to givean orange solution from which succinimide byproduct was removed byfiltration under argon. The filtrate was further concentrated on arotary evaporator with an argon bleed to give a viscous, deep orangeliquid. Pentane (˜250 ml) was slowly added to this viscous liquid whilestirring to precipitate the crude product. The pentane supernate wasfiltered and the solids were collected on a medium glass fritted filterunder argon atmosphere. The solid was dried in vacuum to 60 millitorr.Yield: 71%. MP: 124-125° C. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃ 2.059-2.081 (quint,2H, J=5.5 Hz), 4.163-4.185 (t, 4H, J=5.5 Hz), 4.5 (s, 4H), 7.479 (t,1H), 7.721-7.725 (d, 2H, J=2 Hz). ¹³C-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃, ppm): 27.476,33.262, 62.162, 131.845, 134.459, 137.694. ¹¹B NMR (250 MHz, CDCl₃,ppm): 25.52.

This compound is used in Example 30 and 35.

EXAMPLE 30 Synthesis of3-(3-Bromomethyl-5-(1,3,2)Dioxaborinan-2-Yl-Benzyloxy)-Propan-1-Ol

An oven-dried, 250-mL round bottom flask equipped with a magneticstirring bar and reflux condenser was cooled under argon and chargedwith NaH (0.800 g of 60% in mineral oil, 20 mmols). The powder waswashed with pentane (3×100 mL) and dried in vacuum. Acetonitrile (50 mL)was added by syringe and the mixture stirred at room temperature.1,3-Propane diol (10 mL) was added dropwise over ten min. to form awhite insoluble precipitate. The suspension was vigorously stirred forone hour at which time 20 mL was taken up by syringe and added dropwideto a 250-mL round bottom flask charged with2-(3,5-Bis-bromomethyl-phenyl)-(1,3,2)dioxaborinane (2.865 g, 8.2 mmols)and acetonitrile (50 mL). The mixture was stirred for 12 hr at roomtemperature. A reflux condenser was attached along with a vacuum adapterand the reaction mixture was heated to reflux under argon for two hours.The acetonitrile was removed in vacuo and the residue purified by flashchromatography (EtOAc:hexane, 2:1). Removal of solvents gave asuspension of white solids in a yellow oil, which when analyzed by thinlayer chromatography showed no starting material. The crude mixturecontaining 1,3-propane diol was used without further purification.

This compound was used in Example 31.

EXAMPLE 31 Synthesis of4-N-(Benzyl-3-(Dimethyl)Boronate)-7-N-(Benzyl-3-(1,3,2))Dioxaborinan-2-Y-L)-5-Methylenoxy-Propanol-4,7-PhenanthroliniumDibromide (4,7-Phen-M-BBVOH)

The material from Example 30 was retained in a 100-mL round bottom flaskwith a side arm, and the flask was equipped with a magnetic stirring barand a reflux condenser. The flask was charged with4-N-(benzyl-3-(dimethyl)boronate)-4,7-phenanthrolinium bromide(4,7-Phen-m-BV) (0.797, 1.88 mmols), DMF (4 mL), and CH₃OH (3 mL). Thesuspension was heated to 100° C. for 48 hrs and kept under a blanket ofargon throughout the reaction. The reaction mixture was cooled to roomtemperature under argon and kept stirring. The suspension was cannulatedinto ice-cold diethyl ether (100 mL) and allowed to precipitate over onehr. The supernatant was cannulated to a separate vessel and thebeige/red residue was triturated with THF (50 mL). The mixture wassonicated at 40° C. for 120 min and the resultant fine powder was washedwith diethyl ether (3×50 mL). The solids were collected on a frittedfunnel under argon and dried under reduced pressure (0.929 g, 49.4%yield).

This compound was used in Example 34.

EXAMPLE 32 Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of Two Component System:Thin Film Copolymer Hydrogel of 4-N-(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-7-N-(Benzyl-4-Ethenyl)-4,7-Phenanthrolinium Chloridebromide(4,7-Phen-M-SBBV) Using HPTS-MA

The fluorescence was measured according to the procedures of Example 17.

A base line value of 441 (fluorescence intensity) was established withbuffer solution. The peristaltic pump was stopped and the pumpingsolution was changed to 400 mg/dl glucose in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer.The fluorescence intensity increased twelve units to a value of 453,corresponding to a 2.7% signal increase. The process of switchingsolutions was repeated. The solution was changed to 400 mg/dl fructosein pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. The buffer gave a base line of 443. Thefluorescence intensity increased fourteen units to a value of 457,corresponding to a 3.2% signal increase. Finally, pH 7.4 phosphatebuffer was pumped through the system to achieve a baseline of 446.

These results are found in FIG. 11.

EXAMPLE 33 Synthesis of 4,7-N,N-Bis(Benzyl-3-BoronicAcid)-4-7-Phenanthrolinium Dibromide (4,7-Phen-M-BBV)

An oven-dried, 100-mL round bottom flask equipped with a magneticstirring bar and reflex condenser was cooled under argon, and chargedwith 4,7-phen-m-BV (0.814 g, 1.92 mmols) and 3-bromomethylphenylboronicacid (1.77 g, 8.24 mmols). The system was purged with argon and chargedwith dry DMF (35 mL). The suspension was heated to 80° C. for 48 hoursunder a blanket of argon. The mixture was cooled to room temperatureunder argon and dripped into ice-cold diethyl ether:acetone (1:1, 500mL) containing 1 M HCl (10 drops). The precipitate was filtered andwashed multiple times with cold acetone and subsequently dried underreduced pressure. Yield: 0.913 g, 1.50 mmols (78%). ¹H NMR (250 MHz,CD₃OD, ppm): 6.526 (s, 4H), 7.668 (m, 4H), 7.426 (m, 4H), 8.660 (q, 2H,J=4.5 Hz), 9.833 (d, 2H, J₁=6 Hz), 9.117 (s, 2H), 10.387 (d, 2H, J=9Hz).

¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): 30 (s, broad). This compound quenched thedye of Example 28 and responded to glucose.

This compound was evaluated according to the procedures of Example 17.The Stern-Volmer quenching constant was 2598M⁻¹.

The glucose response was measured using 180 mg/dL, the fluorescenceintensity changed from 257 to 291.

EXAMPLE 34 Synthesis of 4-N-(Benzyl-3-(BoronicAcid)-7-N-[Benzyl-3-(Methylene-(1-Oxy-3-(Oxybenzylvinyl)-Propane))-5-Boro-NicAcid]-4,7-Phenanthrolinium Dibromide

An oven-dried, 100-mL round bottom flask equipped with a magneticstirring bar was charged with 4,7-phen m-BBVOH (0.491 g, 0.641 mmols)and 4-vinylbenzylchloride (0.137 g, 0.9 mmols). Freshly activated NaH(0.048 g, 2 mmols) was suspended in DMF (10 mL) and cannulated into the100-mL flask. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 46 hr thenquenched with acetone (30 mL) and 1 M HCl (10 drops), and allowed tostir overnight (20 hr). The suspension was dripped into cold diethylether (200 mL) and the precipitate allowed to settle. The supernatantwas removed after centrifugation and the residue dissolved in theminimum amount of methanol. Acetone:diethyl ether (1:1, 20 mL) was addedand the precipitate was kept at 4° C. overnight. The suspension wasfiltered and washed with diethyl ether multiple times and dried underreduced pressure. Yield: 0.201 g, 0.247 mmols, 38.5%). ¹H-NMR (500 MHz,D₂O, ppm): 1.73 (d, 2H), 3.581 (d, 2H), 3.707 (d, 2H), 4.7 (s, 4H),5.565 (d, 1H), 6.090 (d, 1H), 6.554 (m, 8H), 6.980 (dd, 1H), 7.66 (m,7H), 8.150 (d, 1H), 8.737 (d, 1H), 8.804 (d, 1H), 9.261 (d, 1H), 9.515(d, 1H), 9.605 (d, 1H), 10.024 (d, 1H), ¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): 30(s, broad). This compound quenched the dye of Example 28 and showed aresponse to glucose.

EXAMPLE 35 Preparation of4,4′-N,N-Bis-[Benzyl-(3-Bromomethyl)-5-(Boronic Acid)]-DipyridiniumDibromide (M-BBVBBR)

An oven-dried, 100-mL round bottom flask equipped with a magneticstirring bar was cooled under argon, and charged with 4,4′-dipyridyl(0.394 g, 2.52 mmols) and2-(3,5-bis-bromomethyl-phenyl)-[1,3,2]dioxaborinane (2.63 g, 7.56 mmols)and sealed with a septum. The flask was purged with argon and chargedwith N,N-dimethylformamide (10 mL). The solution was stirred at roomtemperature for 72 hr and the resultant suspension cannulated, via aplastic cannula, to an acetone:diethyl ether:solution (1:1, 300 mL). Theprecipitate was filtered through an air sensitive fritted funnel andwashed multiple times with diethyl ether under a blanket of argon. Thebright yellow solids were dried under reduced pressure and isolatedunder argon. Yield: 1.632 g, 1.92 mmols, 76%.

The compound was used in Example 36.

EXAMPLE 36 Synthesis of4,4′-N,N-Bis-[Benzyl-(3-Methylene-4-Vinyl-Pyridinium Bromide)-5-(BoronicAcid)]-Dipyridinium Dibromide) (M-BBVBP)

An oven-dried, side-armed 50-mL round bottom flask equipped with amagnetic stirring bar and reflux condenser was cooled under argon, andcharged with m-BBVBBr (500 mg, 0.587 mmols). The solid was dissolved inthe minimum amount of anhydrous CH₃OH (6 mL) and 4-vinylpyridine (63 mg,0.60 mmols) was added through the side arm. The solution was stirred atroom temperature for 15 h and then heated to reflux for six hr.Additional 4-vinylpyridine (63 mg, 0.60 mmols) was added and the mixturerefluxed for 4 days. The dark green solution was cooled to roomtemperature under argon and the CH₃OH removed in vacuum. The crude oilwas vigorously stirred with acetone:water (40:1) along with 1M HCl (5drops) 4×30 mL for ten min and the supernatant decanted. The residue wasrecrystallized from boiling methanol:ethanol (1:1, 50 mL) to yield darkgreen crystals. The solids were collected onto a fritted funnel andwashed with ice-cold ethanol (95% in water) and diethyl ether.Subsequent drying under reduced pressure gave a pea-green powder. Yield:0.446 g, 0.506 mmols, 86%. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, D₂O, ppm): 5.87 (m, 2H),6.055 (m, 8H), 6.400 (m, 2H), 7.44 (d, 2H), 7.899 (m, 6H), 8.612 (d,8H), 9.225 (d, 8H). ¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): 30 ppm (s, broad).

The compound was used in Examples 37 and 40.

EXAMPLE 37 Two Component System: The Thin Hydrogel Copolymerization ofM-BBVBP with HPTS-CO₂ MA Hydrogel

A 10-mL volumetric flask was charged with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate(3.525 g, 27.08 mmols), m-BBVBP (0.617 mg, 7.5×10⁻⁴ mmols), polyethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (1.11 g, 1.11 mmols),2,2′-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane]dihydrochloride (0.025 g, 0.077mmols) and HPTS CO₂ MA (1.26 mg, 1.5×10⁻³ mmols); it was filled to the10-mL mark with methanol:water (1:1, V/V). After the solution wasvigorously stirred on a vortex mixer, it was transferred to a 50-mLround bottom flask and the flask was sealed with a rubber septum. It wasdeoxygenated with argon for 20 minutes. The monomeric solution wastaken-up by syringe and the needle was capped with a rubber stopper. Itwas then transferred to an argon-filled glove box along with thepolymerization chamber described in Example 16. The syringe was attachedto the polymerization chamber and the solution was inserted into thecell, under argon, to fill the entire cavity. The chamber was sealedwith LUER-LOC® plugs and wrapped in two ZIPLOC® Freezer bags. The entireunit was transferred to a 40° C. oven and heated for 18 hrs. Thepolymerization chamber was removed from the oven and allowed to reachroom temperature. It was disassembled and the orange film was leachedwith a pH 8-NaOH solution for 7 hours effectively turning it green. Thegreen film was stored in pH 7.4 phosphate-buffer for 14 hrs.

The green film was stored in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer until used inExample 38.

EXAMPLE 38 Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of Two Component System:Thin Film Copolymer Hydrogel of4,4′-N,N-Bis-(Benzyl-(3-(Methylene-4-Vinylpyridiniumbromide)-5-(BoronicAcid))]-Dipyridinium Dibromide Using HPTS-CO₂ MA

The fluorescence was measured according to the procedures of Example 12.

The time drive function of the Perkin-Elmer LS50B software was used toacquire fluorescence intensity readings every ten seconds with anintegration time of two seconds. The excitation frequency was set at 463nm and the emission frequency was set at 518 nm. The excitation slitwidth was set at 15 nm and the emission at 4.3 nm. A base line value of451 (fluorescence intensity) was established with buffer solution. Theperistaltic pump was stopped and the pumping solution was changed to 360mg/dl glucose in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. The fluorescence intensityincreased 29 units to a value of 458, corresponding to a 1.6% signalincrease. The process of switching solutions was repeated. The buffergave an expected base line of 451.

EXAMPLE 39 A Single Component Viologen Sensor HPTS-BV

(a)—An oven dried round bottom flask was cooled under argon, fitted witha magnetic stirring bar, charged with 4-chloromethylbenzoylchloride(1.89 g, 10 mmols), and sealed with a rubber septum. Dichloromethane (25mL) was added and the solution was stirred and cooled on an ice waterbath. 1,3-Propanediamine (0.89 g, 12 mmol) was added drop wise causingan immediate white precipitate. The white solid was collected underargon on a medium fritted glass filter and washed with colddichloromethane. The white solid was dried under vacuum (100 mtorr, 3 h)to give 2.61 grams (99% yield) of4-chloromethylbenzoyl-(1-amidopropyl-3-ammonium chloride). ¹H NMR (500MHz, D₂O, ppm): 1.7-1.8 (m), 2.5, 2.8 (t), 3.3 (q), 4.8 (s), 7.5 (d),7.8 (d), 8.6 (t).

(b) (m-BV)—An oven dried round bottom flask was cooled under argon,fitted with a magnetic stirring bar, charged with3-bromomethylphenylboronic acid (0.64 g, 3 mmols), and sealed with arubber septum. THF (50 mL) was added to give a slightly cloudy yellowsolution. A second oven dried round bottom flask was cooled under argon,fit with a magnetic stir bar, charged with 4,4′-bipyridine (1.87 g, 12mmols), and sealed with a rubber septum. THF (5 mL) was added via doubleended needle, and after a few minutes of stirring, the solutioncontaining 4,4′-bipyridine in THF was added drop wise to the3-bromomethylphenylboronic acid solution. After 30 minutes some yellowprecipitate begins to form, the solution was stirred at room temperatureovernight and a large amount of precipitate formed. The solution wasthen centrifuged and the supernatant transferred via double endedneedle. The yellow solid was washed with THF (3×10 mL) and dried undervacuum (100 mtorr, 3 h) to give 0.88 grams (79% yield) mBV. ¹H NMR (500MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): 5.9 (s), 7.46 (m), 7.6 (m), 8.0 (m), 8.5, 8.7, 9.2;¹¹B NMR (250 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): 30.8

(c) m-ABBV—An oven dried round bottom flask was cooled under argon,fitted with a magnetic stirring bar, charged with4-chloromethylbenzoyl-(1-amidopropyl-3-ammonium chloride) (263 mg, 1mmol) and sealed with a rubber septum. Methanol (30 mL) was added andthe solution stirred. mBV (371 mg, 1 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (10mL) and added drop wise to the solution containing4-chloromethylbenzoyl-(1-amidopropyl-3-ammonium chloride). The solutionwas heated to reflux. After 48 hours the solution was cooled to roomtemperature under argon. 10 mL of the solution was removed with asyringe and precipitated in acetone (100 mL). The supernatant wasdecanted off and the white solid collected and dried under vacuum togive 44 mg of m-ABBV. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, D₂O, ppm): 2.1, 2.2, 3.45, 4.9,6.0, 7.6, 8.6, 9.2; ¹¹B NMR (250 MHz, CD₃OD, ppm): 31.7.

(d) AIO—An oven dried round bottom flask was cooled under argon, fittedwith a magnetic stirring bar, charged with m-ABBV (44 mg, 0.075 mmol)and sealed with a rubber septum. Methanol (10 mL) was added followed bywater (2 mL). K₂CO₃ was added and the solution stirred.1-Acetoxy-3,6-8-trisulfonylchloride (acetoxy-HPTS-Cl) (38 mg, 0.068mmol) was dissolved in methanol (15 mL) to give a yellow suspension,acetone (5 mL) was added to give a homogeneous solution. Theacetoxy-HPTS-Cl solution was added to the m-ABBV dropwise via syringe.The solution immediately became red and after a few minutes of stirringa precipitate began to form. The solution was stirred at roomtemperature overnight, then transferred to a centrifuge tube. Aftercentrifugation the supernatant was transferred to a round bottom flaskand concentrated on a rotary evaporator. Residual water was removed byco-evaporation with acetonitrile, and the resulting black solid wasdried under vacuum to give 55 mg (70% yield) of8-acetoxy-1-m-ABBV-pyrene-3,6-bissulfonic acid (AIO). ¹H NMR (500 MHz,D₂O, ppm): 2.01-2.08, 2.14, 2.8, 3.1, 3.4, 5.7, 5.88, 7.45, 7.55, 7.7,7.8, 7.99, 8.07, 8.17, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.05.

(e) The final isolated material was then used in a glucose study asdescribed in Example 17. First a 5×10⁻⁴ M stock solution of AIO wasprepared in a 25 mL volumetric flask, but before diluting completelywith pH 7.4 (0.1 ionic strength) phosphate buffer the solution was madebasic (pH 10) to ensure all the acetoxy protecting group was removed.The solution was then adjusted back to pH 7.4 and diluted to 25 mL. Nexta 5×10⁻⁵ M stock solution was then used to prepare seven 5 ml sampleswith varying amounts of glucose. The analysis was done on a Perkin-ElmerLS50-B luminescence spectrometer with the following instrument settings:

TABLE 6 Excitation Wavelength 463 nm Emission Wavelength Range 450-650nm Excitation Slit Width 15 nm Emission Slit Width 15 nm Emission Filter1% T attenuator Scan Speed 100 nm/sec

This compound was highly responsive to glucose. Addition of 18 mg/dLresulted in a signal increase from 827 to 908. See FIG. 14. Addition ofmore concentrated glucose solutions did not cause any additionalincrease in fluorescence intensity due to the material being saturatedwith small amounts of glucose.

EXAMPLE 40 Two Component System The Thin Film Copolymerization ofM-BBVBP with HPTS MA

A 10-mL volumetric flask was charged with 2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate(3.525 g, 27.08 mmols), m-BBVBP (12.3 mg, 0.015 mmols), polyethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (1.11 g, 1.11 mmols),2,2″-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane]dihydrochloride (0.025 g, 0.077mmols) and HPTS MA (1.32 mg, 1.5×10⁻³ mmols). It was filled to the 10-mLmark with methanol:water (1:1, V/V). After the solution was vigorouslystirred on a vortex mixer it was transferred to a 50-mL round bottomflask and the flask was sealed with a rubber septum; it was deoxygenatedwith argon for 20 minutes. The manometric solution was taken-up bysyringe and the needle was capped with a rubber stopper. It was thentransferred to an argon-filled glove box along with the polymerizationchamber.* (*See Ex. 11) The syringe was attached to the polymerizationchamber and the solution was inserted into the cell, under argon, tofill the entire cavity. The chamber was sealed with LUER-LOCK® plugs andwrapped in a ZIPLOC® freezer bag. The entire unit was transferred to a40° oven and heated for 10 hrs. The polymerization chamber was removedfrom the oven and allowed to reach room temperature. It was disassembledand the film was leached with a pH 8 NaOH solution for four hours. Thefilm was stored in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer until analyzed in Example 41.

EXAMPLE 41 Fluorescence Spectroscopy Analysis of Two Component System:Thin Film Copolymer Hydrogel of4,4′-N,N-Bis-[Benzyl-(3-Methylene-4-Vinylpyridiniumbromide)-5-(BoronicAcid)]-Dipyridinium Dibromide (M-BBVBP) Using HPTS-MA

See Example 12 for analysis procedure.

A peristaltic pump was used to circulate pH 7.4 phosphate buffer (ionicstrength 0.1) through the cell at a rate of 30 mL per minute. The timedrive function of the Perkin-Elmer LS50B software was used to acquirefluorescence intensity readings. The sample was irradiated using thepulse function (every two seconds) and readings captured every tenseconds with an integration time of two sec. The excitation frequencywas set at 475 nm and the emission frequency was set at 525 nm. Theexcitation slit width was set at 15 nm and the emission at 4 nm. A baseline value of 464 (fluorescence intensity) was established with buffersolution. The peristaltic pump was stopped and the pumping solution waschanged to 360 mg/dl glucose in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. Thefluorescence intensity increased 29 units to a value of 493,corresponding to a 6.3% signal increase. The process of switchingsolutions was repeated. The buffer gave an expected base line of 464.After changing to 100 mg/dl glucose in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer thefluorescence intensity rose 20 units to a value of 484, corresponding toa 4.3% signal increase. Finally, the base line dropped to the expectedvalue of 464 when buffer was pumped through the system.

The results are found in FIG. 14.

EXAMPLE 42 Preparation of PMMA

A 1 mm thick piece of PMMA is cut to the size of a polymerizationchamber with a dremel tool. The PMMA is then cleaned with hexanes on akimwipes, followed by isopropanol on a kimwipes, and subsequently placedin and soaked in isopropanol for two hours. The PMMA article is thendried for one hour at 40° C. in a vacuum oven under nitrogen.

EXAMPLE 43 Preparation of Amide Solution

A dry 50 mL round bottom flask is fitted with a magnetic stir bar andrubber septum, cooled under argon, and charged with 1,2-ethanediamine.The flask is then purged with argon for 20 min. Butyllithium (^(n)BuLi2.0 M in cyclohexane) is added drop wise at room temperature via syringeover 30 minutes. Following the addition of ^(n)BuLi, the solution isstirred for 3 hours.

EXAMPLE 44 Amine Functionalization of PMMA Surface

Dry PMMA and the lithium amide solution are transferred to a dry box,which is then flushed with argon. The PMMA surface is then exposed tothe lithium amide solution by dripping the amide solution onto PMMA witha Pasteur pipet. The amide solution is left in contact with PMMA for twomin and the amide is then quenched with milli-Q water. Amide treatedPMMA is then placed into the vacuum oven and dried at 40° C. for onehour.

EXAMPLE 45 Methacrylate Functionalization of PMMA Surface

Amine functionalized PMMA is then transferred to the dry box. Dodecane,methacryloylchloride, and triethylamine are placed into dry box, and thedry box is flushed with argon. 5 mL dodecane (25 mmole), 5 mLmethacryloylchloride (51 mmole), and 0.5 mL triethylamine (3.5 mmole)are mixed, and this heterogeneous solution is dripped onto the aminefunctionalized PMMA surface. The solution is left in contact with PMMAfor 15 min, then rinsed with isopropanol.

EXAMPLE 46 Covalent Attachment of Sensing Hydrogel Polymer to PMMASurface

The polymerization chamber is assembled in the usual manner, surfacemodified PMMA is placed into the chamber as the back plate with themethacrylate functionality on the inside of the polymerization chamber.The top glass plate is treated with dimethylsilane (1% in toluene) andthoroughly rinsed with hexanes before assembling. A monomer mix is thenprepared in the usual manner using a 1:20 dye/quencher ratio, thepolymerization chamber is filled in the dry box, transferred to thevacuum oven, and maintained at 40° C. for 18 hr. The polymerizationchamber is then removed and disassembled. The sandwiched film is placedinto a water bath, which is brought to pH 10, and left stirring for 12hr. The PMMA with covalently attached sensing hydrogel is then placedinto pH 7.4 buffer and placed into the refrigerator.

The PMMA bound sensing hydrogel is then cut to fit into the flowthroughcuvette. This film is examined in flow-through experiments using thePerkin Elmer LS50B spectrophotometer, and also using the Ocean OpticsSF2000 spectrophotometer using a glass optical fibers. In bothspectrometers, a measurable change in fluorescence is observed withvariance in glucose concentration.

EXAMPLE 47 Synthesis of HPTS(LYS-MA)₃

A 500 mL round-bottomed flask with magnetic stir bar was charged with3.0 g of Boc-protected lysine and 10 mL of milliQ water and stirring wascommenced. 0.80 G of NaOH were added and allowed to dissolve followed byaddition of 85 mL of acetonitrile. 0.600 g of AcOHPTSCl dissolved in 10mL of tetrahydrofuran were then added dropwise to the stirring solutionto produce a red-orange color. The flask was sealed with a septum andallowed to continue overnight. After 22 hr the reaction was stopped andthe mixture settled into two phases: a deep red lower aqueous layer anda clear green upper organic layer. The lower aqueous layer was removedwith a Pasteur pipet and was added dropwise to a 50 mL centrifuge tubefilled with 30 mL of 3M HCl to produce a yellow precipitate. Theprecipitate was concentrated by centrifugation and the acidicsupernatant was decanted. The process was repeated 5 times until all ofthe red aqueous material had been precipitated. The yield and purity ofthis crude material were not determined. The combined solids weredissolved in 30 mL of a 50% MeOH/50% pH 7.4 buffer solution.

This material was next separated on a C18 reverse phase Biotagechromatography column having a UV-vis detector in three injections usingwater/methanol eluent. The combined fractions of interest wereevaporated to dryness on the rotary evaporator. This red material wasredissolved in 8 mL MeOH and filtered with a 1.0 um syringe filter,dried again on the rotary evaporator and dried completely on the highvacuum overnight. The mass of the dried orange colored material(HPTS(Lys-Box)₃ was determined to be 0.815 g. ¹H NMR analysis reveledthat the Boc protecting group remained largely in place.

The product was next redissolved in 20 mL of trifluoroacetic acid andallowed to stir overnight in order to remove the Boc protecting group.After deprotection, the excess acid was neutralized by addition oftriethylamine and pH 7.4 buffer solution to give a total volume of 30mL. A portion of this material was injected on C18 reverse phase Biotagechromatography column using water/methanol eluent. The fractions ofinterest were combined and dried on rotary evaporator and high vacuum togive 66 mg of highly pure material (HPTS(Lys)₃.

This purified dye was placed in a 100 mL round bottomed flask with amagnetic stir bar and dissolved in 1 mL of milliQ water and 0.3 mL of 3MNaOH and the bright green solution was stirred. 10 mL of tetrahydrofuranwere added and the flask was sealed with a septum. 0.2 mL ofmethacryloyl chloride were added via a syringe causing a color changefrom green to deep red-brown. The reaction was allowed to continueovernight and was stopped after 24 hr. 3M NaOH 1.2 mL were added tobring the pH to 10 in order to form the sodium salt of the product. Thestir bar was then removed and the product was dried under vacuumovernight. After additional C18 column chromatography, the final productwas isolated as the pink-colored sodium salt. Mass=87 mg. The productwas characterized using ¹H NMR and the spectrum showed clean productwith appropriate signals and integration.

EXAMPLE 48 Synthesis of HPTS (LYS-MA)₃):BP 0.02″ Hydrogel

(a) Preparation of Monomer Mixture (1:20 Dye:Quencher Ratio):

A 20 mL scintillation vial was charged with 0.560 g of PEG-DMA, 1.767 gof HEMA, 12 mg of VA-044 (a polymerization initiator), 2 mg ofHPTS(Lys-MA)₃ dissolved in 1 mL water, and 100 mg of BP (a quencher)dissolved in 1 mL of water. The mixture was placed on a vortex mixeruntil all the materials had dissolved, then the total volume was broughtto 5 mL by addition of milliQ water. The solution was then transferredto a 25 mL round bottom flask that was sealed with a septum before theflask was placed in an ice bath. A syringe needle attached to a nitrogenline was inserted into the flask and the solution was degassed for 15minutes. 3 mL of the degassed solution was withdrawn using a syringe,corked and placed in the drybox for addition to the polymerizationchamber.

(b) Polymerization of the Monomer Mixture:

At the same time, the polymerization chamber was prepared in theconventional manner, degassed, and placed in the drybox. The monomermixture was added to the polymerization chamber under argon in thedrybox. The chamber was sealed and placed in a vacuum oven at 40° C.overnight. After heating for 16 hr, the temperature was raised to 70° C.for one hr, then the chamber was removed from the oven and allowed tocool at ambient. After cooling, the chamber was disassembled and theglass plate to which the then film was attached was placed in a pH 10water bath. After one day in the water bath, the thin film was cut intocuvette-sized pieces and stored in pH 7.4 buffer and refrigerated.

(c) Performance for the Thin Film:

A single piece of the thin film was mounted inside a flow-throughcuvette with lines attached that allow for different solutions to be runthrough the cuvette while the fluorescence intensity is being measured.After running pH 7.4 buffer over the thin film for several hours asteady baseline was established. The solution was then switched to 90mg/dL glucose solution in pH 7.4 buffer resulting in an increase of 10%in fluorescence intensity. Changing the solution from 90 mg/dL to a 180mg/dL glucose solution caused a further 3% increase in fluorescenceintensity. A change from 180 mg/dL to a 360 mg/dL caused an additional2% increase in fluorescence intensity. Finally, when the solution wasreturned to pH 7.4, the fluorescence intensity dropped by 10%.

EXAMPLE 49 Optical Fiber with Sensing Hydrogel

Assembly of PMMA Optical Fiber

A 1 mm diameter PMMA optical fiber (South Coast Fiber Optics) isassembled by first filling an SMA-905 (Thor Labs part # 11040A)connector with Epotec two part epoxy resin, then pushing the opticalfiber through the connector so that about 5 mm of optical fiberprotrudes through the back side of the SMA connector. Thefiber/connector is then placed into a vacuum oven at 40° C. for 14 hr. Asmall glass capillary is filled with Epotec two part epoxy resin, andthe distal end of the optical fiber is inserted through so that about 5mm of the optical fiber protrudes through the glass capillary, the fiberis then placed into the vacuum oven at 40° C. for 14 hr. The fiber isremoved from the vacuum oven. The proximal end of the fiber is cut witha razor blade almost flush with the SMA connector, polished with 5micron Aluminum Oxide Fiber polishing film until flush with SMAconnector, then polished with 1 micron Aluminum Oxide Fiber polishingfilm to buff. The distal end is cut with a razor blade almost flush withthe glass capillary, polished with 5 micron Aluminum Oxide Fiberpolishing film until flush with glass capillary, then polished with 1micron Aluminum Oxide Fiber polishing film to buff. Both the distal endand the proximal end of the fiber are cleaned with isopropanol, andfinally blown clean and dry with canned air.

Hydrogel Preparation

A 0.001 inch sensing hydrogel was prepared as described abovemBBVBP/HPTS(lysMA)₃ (50:1).

Attachment of Hydrogel to PMMA

A small amount of VetBond™ (3M) was applied to the edges of the distalend of the PMMA optical fiber. The distal end of the PMMA optical fiberwas then contacted with the sensing hydrogel piece lying on a metalspatula. After about 60 sec the fiber was lifted off the spatula withthe sensing hydrogel affixed. The sensing hydrogel was then trimmed witha razor blade to be approximately the same diameter as the PMMA opticalfiber. See FIGS. 15 and 16.

The glass flow through cell was used. The inlet had a small diameterTYGON tubing pushed through a rubber septum wrapped with parafilm. Theoutlet had a large diameter tygon tubing placed directly over the glassarm. The fiber with sensing hydrogel affixed was pushed through a rubbergasket in a plastic cap, which fit onto the glass flow through cell. Thevolume of the glass cell and tubing was 120 mL. Aquarium sealant wasused to seal up the top where the fiber went through the cap. Thesolution is circulated using a Masterflex peristaltic pump at a rate of14 mL/min.

Glucose Response Fluorescent Time Study

The excitation source was a blue LED housed in the Ocean Optics SF2000device. The detector was also house in the Ocean Optics SF2000 device.The ocean optics sf2000 is connected to a lap top computer via the USB2000. A piece of calamet (unit of .lamda.) filter was placed inside theSMA connector leading into the detector. A glass bifuricated cable isthen attached to the Ocean Optics device. The proximal end of the PMMAoptical fiber is then attached to the distill end of the glass opticalfiber. The ocean optics device is set as follows for emissionacquisitions: Integration time=1000 msec.; Average=5; Boxcar=25; FlashDelay=Imsec; strobe lamp/enable is checked; correct for electrical darkis checked; emission monitored at 546 nm. First pH 7.4 phosphate bufferis calculated. At 60487 seconds 20 mM glucose (in pH 7.4 phosphatebuffer) solution is pumped through (140 mL) then recirculated resultingin an 11% increase in Fluorescence Signal. At 67585 seconds pH 7.4phosphate buffer is pumped through (140 mL) then recirculated resultingin an 11% decrease in fluorescent signal as shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 16 issimilar to FIG. 15 and shows the glucose response for different sampleconcentrations of glucose versus time in seconds.

EXAMPLE 50 [3,3′]Bipydridinyl-5-Carbontrile

To a 50-mL oven-dried round bottomed flask with a sideann and condenser,was added 5-bromo-3-cyanopyridine (2.2 g, 12 mmol), 3-pyridineboronicacid (1.23 g, 10 mmol), and anhydrous 1A-dioxane (10 mL) under argon. Adegassed aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃ (2 M, 10 mL) was then added viasyringe to the vigorously stirred reaction mixture, followed by theaddition of Pd(OAc₂ (0.11 g, 0.5 mmol) and PPh₃ (0.52 g, 2 mmol). Thereaction flask was then degassed using 5 argon/vacuum back-fill cycles,then stirred for 2 h at 95° C. After cooling to ambient temperature,water was added (40 mL), and the reaction was extracted with ethylacetate (3×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine (2×75mL), dried with magnesium sulfate, and evaporated under reducedpressure. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel (pretreated with10% triethylamine) using 20% ethyl acetate in dichloromethane to give0.6 g (34% yield) of white solid. ¹H NMR (CDCh, 500 MHz). 7.47 (dd,J=8.5, 5.0 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (dt, J=8.5, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.15 (t, J=2.5 Hz,1H), 8.72 (dd, J=5.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 8.85 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.91 (d,J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 9.03 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 125 MHz) 110.42,116.20, 124.7, 131.33, 133.95, 134.54, 137.37, 148.09, 150.46, 151.36,151.53; MS (ES!) mJz calcd for C₁₁H₈N₃ (M+H)⁺: 182.06. found 182.1.

EXAMPLE 51 C-[3,3′]Bipydridinyl-5-Yl-Methylamine

To a solution of CoCl₂ (0.86 g, 6.6 mml) in methanol (20 mL), was addedNaBH₄ (1.25 g, 33 mmol) portionwize, resulting in an exothermic reactionwith Hz evolution. The reaction was stirred for 10 min., and the blackprecipitate that formed was filtered, washed with methanol andair-dried. The black solid was added to a suspension of[3,3′]bipyridinyl-5carbonitrile (0.6 g, 3.3 mmol) in methanol (40 mL).After cooling to 0° C., NaBH₄ (1 g) was added, and the reaction wasstirred at ambient temperature for 12 h. Then, 3 M HCl (200 mL) wasadded, the methanol was removed under reduced pressure, and the acidicaqueous layer was washed with ether (100 mL), then basified with conc.NaOH, extracted with ethyl acetate, dried with Na₂SO₄, and evaporated toa yellow oil (0.15 g).

EXAMPLE 52 N-[3,3′]Bipyridinyl-5-Ylmethyl-2Methyl-Acrylamide

To a cooled solution of C-[3,3′]Bipyridinyl-5-yl-methylamine (1.16 g,6.2 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL) was added methacryloyl chloridedropwise. After stirring for 7 h at ambient temperature, the reactionwas quenched with 1 M NaOH, and extracted with dichloromethane (2×100mL). The combined organics were washed with sat. NaHCO₃, brine, driedwith Na₂SO₄, and evaporated to a yellow oil (1.65 g) which waschromatographed en silica gel (pretreated with 10% triethylamine) usinga methanol gradient (0-3%) in dichloromethane to give 0.76 g of clearoil.

EXAMPLE 53 Synthesis of P3,3′-OBBV

To a solution of N-[3,3′]-Bipyridinyl-5-ylmethyl-2methyl-acrylamide(0.15 g, 0.59) in DMF (25 mL), was added o-bromomethylphenylboronic acid(0.29 g, 1.36 mml), and the reaction was stirred at 55° C. for 48 h.After cooling to ambient temperature, acetone (100 mL) was added to theyellow solution to induce precipitation. The white precipitate wascollected by centrifugation, washed with acetone, and dried under astream of argon to yield 0.1 g (25% yield) of product.

EXAMPLE 54 Hydrogel Containing P3,3′-OBBV and APTS-LYS-E-MA

N^(ε)-Methacryloyl-(S)-lysine (27). Methacryloyl chloride (4.8 mL, 50mmol) was slowly added, via syringe, to a cooled (0° C.) solution oflysine monohydrochloride (8.0 g, 43.6 mmol), CuSO₄.5H₂O (5.46 g, 21.8mmol), NaOH (3.6 g, 90 mmol), and Na₂CO₃ (4.6 g, 43.6 mmol) in H₂O (80mL). The reaction was stirred at RT for 2 h. The resulting blueprecipitate was filtered and washed with H₂O, acetone, ether, then H₂Oagain. After air-drying, the violet-blue solid (26) was purified by ionexchange: ca. 40 mL of DOWEX® 50WX8-400 resin was treated with 1 M NH₄OH(100 mL), and the suspension was poured into a column and washed withconc. NH₄OH. The copper complex (26) was dissolved in conc. NH₄OH (2mL), loaded onto the column, and eluted with ca. 500 mL of conc. NH₄OH.The solution was evaporated in vacuo, and dried under high vac. to yieldpure 27 as a white solid (5.5 g, 60%). ¹H NMR (250 MHz, D₂O) δ: 1.53 (m,2H), 1.67 (m, 2H), 1.98 (m, 2H), 2.02 (s, 3H), 3.37 (t, J=6.5, 2H),3.83, (t, J=6.0, 1H), 5.53, (s, 1H), 5.77 (s, 1H); ¹³C NMR (69.3 MHz,D₂O) δ: 17.75, 21.85, 28.12, 30.14, 39.14, 54.71, 120.82, 139.22,171.93, 174.79. See Makromol. Chem. 1980, 181, 2183-2197.

APTS-Cl (31). A dry 50-mL round-bottom flask with a side-arm andcondenser, was charged with 1-aminopyrene (0.50 g, 2.3 mmol) and CH₂Cl₂(10 mL) under argon. To this clear brown solution was addedchlorosulfonic acid (2 mL, 30 mmol) dropwise, via syringe, and thereaction was refluxed for 16 h. After cooling to RT, the reactionmixture was poured into a beaker of crushed ice. The red-colored water(containing some solid) was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ several times. AllCH₂Cl₂ portions (amber-colored) were combined, dried with Na₂SO₄,filtered and evaporated to give 31 as a dark red solid (0.47 g, 40%). ¹HNMR (250 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 8.35 (s, 1H), 8.59 (d, J=9.5, 1H), 9.14 (d,J=9.75, 1H), 9.23 (d, J=9.5, 1H), 9.48 (d, J=9.75, 1H), 9.49, (s, 1H).

APTS-Lys-e-MA (32). To a solution of 31 (0.47 g, 0.92 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂(100 mL) was added a solution of N^(ε)-Methacryloyl-(S)-lysine (0.63 g,2.9 mmol) and NaOH (0.23 g, 5.5 mmol) in CH₃OH (20 mL). The clear,amber-colored solution became greenish, and orange precipitate formedwhen the basic lysine was added. The heterogeneous reaction mixture wasstirred for 16 h, then filtered and washed several times with CH₂Cl₂.After drying under reduced pressure, 32 was obtained as an orange solid(0.63 g, 95%).

Observations with P3,3′-oBBV

A solution of P3,3-oBBV in water remained colorless when exposed to UVlight (254 nm or 365 nm) for extended periods of time (several hours). A4,4′-oBBV derivative, however, was observed to turn pink colored underthese same conditions.

A hydrogel composed of P3,3-oBBV and a polymerizable dye (SG5-34, Feb.27, 2005) did not change color when exposed to the same aforementionedconditions. It also did not change colors when exposed to continuousillumination at 467 nm (argon laser).

EXAMPLE 55 Synthesis of APTS-BUMA

A. Synthesis of Compound 1

Methacryloyl chloride (5.86 mL, 60 mmol) was added dropwise to a cooledsolution (0° C.) of 1,4-butanediol (5.33 mL, 60 mmol) and pyridine (30mL) in dichloromethane (30 mL). The reaction was stirred at roomtemperature for 2 h., quenched with 1M HCl (50 mL), and extracted withdichloromethane (3×100 mL). The combine DCM layers were washed with 3MHCl (DCM-3×100 mL), dried with magnesium sulfate, and evaporated to apink oil which was chromatographed on silica gel usinghexanes/ethylacetate (6:4) to give 3.7 g (40% yield) of clear oil.

B. Synthesis of Compound 2

A solution of Compound 1 (3.7 g, 23 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) wasadded to a suspension of pyridinium chlorochromate (7.4 g, 34.5 mmol)and celite (5 g) in dichloromethane (30 mL). The reaction was stirred atroom temperature for 4 h. Diethylether (200 mL) was added and thereaction was filtered through celite. The dark brown filtrate wasevaporated to a black oil which was then chromatographed on silica gelusing 100% dichloromethane to yield 2 g (56% yield) of clear oil.

C. Synthesis of APTS-BuMA

To a solution of 8-aminopyrenetrisulfonic acid trisodium salt (APTS)(0.6 g, 1.15 mmol) in dry methanol (20 mL) was added Compound 2 (0.18 g,1.15 mmol) and glacial acetic acid (1 mL, 17 mmol). A solution of sodiumcyanoborohydride (0.3 g, 4.7 mmol) in dry methanol (10 mL) was thenadded, and the reaction was allowed to stir at ambient temperatureovernight. The starting material and product (.apprxeq. 50:50) wereobserved by TLC, so the reaction was heated at 55° C. for 4 h. Thereaction mixture was evaporated, and the resulting residue wasredissolved in a minimal amount of water and purified by flash columnchromatography on silica gel (isopropanol/ammonium hydroxide 9:1 to 3:1gradient). Isolated 0.15 g (20% yield) of orange powder. Reference forvarious APTS derivatives include PCT Int. Pub. No. WO2004/027388.

EXAMPLE 56 Synthesis of APTS-DEGMA

A. Synthesis of Compound 3

A solution of diethylene glycol monomethacrylate (4 g, 23 mmol) indichloromethane (10 mL) was added to a suspension of pyridiniumchlorochromate (7.4 g, 34.5 mmol) and celite (8 g) in dichloromethane(40 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for 1 h.Diethylether (200 mL) was added and the reaction was filtered throughcelite. The dark brown filtrate was evaporated to a black oil, which wasthen chromatographed on silica gel using 0% to 5% ethyl acetate indichloromethane to yield 1.4 g (36% yield) of light green oil.

B. Synthesis of APTS-DegMA

To a solution of 8-aminopyrenetrisulfonic acid trisodium salt (APTS)(0.23 g, 0.44 mmol) in dry methanol (10 mL) was added Compound 3 (0.3 g,1.77 mmol) and glacial acetic acid (0.4 mL, 6.6 mmol). A solution ofsodium cyanoborohydride (0.12 g, 1.77 mmol) in dry methanol (10 mL) wasthen added, and the reaction was let stir at 50° C. for 2 h. Thereaction mixture was evaporated, and the resulting residue wasredissolved in a minimal amount of methanol and purified by flash columnchromatography on silica gel (isopropanol/ammonium hydroxide 7:1 to 4:1gradient). Isolated 0.145 g (48% yield) of orange powder.

EXAMPLE 57 Synthesis of 1MA-BP A

Synthesis of Compound 7

To a 500 mL round-bottom flask fitted with a condenser and a sidearm wasadded 3,5-dimethylphenylboronic acid (10.5 g, 70 mmol), calcium hydride(5.9 g, 140 mmol), and dichloroethane (300 mL). After 10 minutes ofstirring under argon, 1,3-propanediol (5.6 mL, 77 mmol) was added viasyringe. The reaction was refluxed for 1.5 h, cooled to ambienttemperature, and filtered. The clear filtrate was mixed withN-bromosuccinimide (27.4 g, 154 mmol) and 2,2′-azobisisobutryonitrile(2.3 g, 14 mmol) and refluxed for 3 h. The orange solution was cooledovernight (.apprxeq. 16 h), and the succinate crystals that formed werefiltered off. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness, leaving anoff-white chunky solid, which was recrystallized from methanol (ca. 300mL) to give 11.0 g (46%) of pure Compound 7: ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ2.07 (q, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 4.17 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 4H), 4.49 (s, 4H), 7.48 (s,1H), 7.74 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 125 MHz) δ 27.51, 33.39, 62.22,131.92, 134.52, 137.73; ¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 28.5. Anal. Calcd forC₁₁H₁₃BBrO₂: C, 37.98; H, 3.77; Br, 45.94. Found: C, 38.08; H, 3.68; Br,46.12.

B. Synthesis of Compound 8

Methacryloyl chloride (6.7 mL, 69.6 mmol) was added dropwise to a cooled(−10° C.) solution of 4-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine (7.0 mL, 58 mmol) inCH₂Cl₂ (200 mL), and the reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for16 h. Saturated Na₂CO₃ (200 mL) was added, and the organic layer wasseparated. The aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (100 mL), and theorganic layers were combined, washed with 1M NaOH (2×100 mL), dried withNa₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated to give the product as an orange oil(7.0 g, 63% yield). Purification by flash column chromatography usingEtOAc/Hexanes (9:1) gave a clear oil.

¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 1.54 (s, 3H), 2.49 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 3.17 (q,J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 4.90 (s, 1H), 5.32 (s, 1H), 6.74 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 7.57(t, J=5.5, NH), 7.98 (d, J=4.5 Hz, 2H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 125 MHz) δ 18.5,34.7, 39.8, 119.2, 124.2, 139.9, 148.5, 149.2, 168.9.

C. Synthesis of Compound 9

Compound 8 (1.3 g, 6.8 mmol) was added to a solution of Compound 7 (9.5g, 27.3 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (370 mL) and CH₃OH (180 mL), and the reactionwas stirred at 40° C. for 20 h. The CH₂Cl₂ was removed in vacuo, and theexcess Compound 7 which precipitated out of methanol was filtered offand washed with ice-cold methanol. The filtrate was concentrated down toca. 20 mL, then acetone (ca. 300 mL) was added, followed by the additionof ether until turbidity occurred. Storage at −4° C. for 24 h resultedin the formation of a white precipitate which was collected bycentrifugation, washed several times with acetone, and dried under argonto yield 0.91 g of pure Compound 9 (33% yield). ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz)δ 1.83 (s, 3H), 3.16 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 3.61 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 4.57 (s,2H), 5.32 (s, 1H), 5.59 (s, 1H), 5.79 (s, 2H), 7.50-7.79 (m, 3H), 7.98(d, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 8.92 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 2H); ¹³C NMR (CD₃OD, 125 MHz) δ17.3, 31.8, 35.2, 38.6, 119.4, 128.6, 130.7, 133.1, 133.6, 135.5, 139.0,139.5, 143.6, 143.8, 169.8; ¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 28.1.

D. Synthesis of Compound 10

Pyridine (0.56 mL, 7 mmol) was added via syringe to a solution ofCompound 7 (9.73 g, 28 mmol) in CH₂C₂ (370 mL) and CH₃OH (180 mL), andthe reaction was stirred at 40° C. for 22 h. The CH₂Cl₂ was removed invacuo, and the excess Compound 7 which precipitated out of methanol wasfiltered off and washed with ice-cold methanol. The filtrate wasconcentrated down to ca. 20 mL, and then acetone (ca. 300 mL) was added,followed by the addition of ether until turbidity occurred. Storage at−4° C. for 24 h resulted in the formation of white needle-shapedcrystals. The solid was collected by centrifugation, washed severaltimes with acetone, and dried under argon to yield 1.3 g of pureCompound 10 (48% yield): ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ 4.57 (s, 2H), 5.88(s, 2H), 7.64 (s, 1H), 7.75-7.90 (m, 2H), 8.13 (dd, J=7.0, 7.5 Hz, 2H),8.61 (tt, J=8.0, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 9.10 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 2H); ¹³C NMR (CD₃OD,125 MHz) δ 31.9, 64.1, 128.4, 130.9, 133.0, 133.8, 135.6, 139.1, 144.6,146.1; ¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 28.3.

E. Synthesis of Compound 11

To a solution of Compound 10 (0.4 g, 1.03 mmol) in DMF (20 mL), wasadded 4,4′-dipyridyl (0.8 g, 5.2 mmol), and the reaction was heated inan oil bath. Once the temperature reached 80° C. (ca. 5 min), a smallamount of yellow precipitate began to form. The reaction was filteredhot, and acetone (ca. 50 mL) was added to the clear yellow filtrateuntil a fluffy white precipitate formed. The precipitate was collectedby centrifugation, washed with acetone several times, and dried under astream of argon to yield pure Compound 11 as an off-white solid (0.41 g,74% yield): ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500 MHz) δ 5.94 (s, 2H), 5.98 (s, 2H), 7.89(br s, 1H), 7.93 (br s, 1H), 7.96 (br s, 1H) 7.99 (dd, J=4.5, 1.5 Hz,2H), 8.14 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 8.54 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 8.61 (tt, J=7.5,1.5 Hz, 1H), 8.80 (dd, J=5.0, 1.5 Hz, 2H), 9.17 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 9.25(d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H); ¹³C NMR (CD₃OD, 125 MHz) δ 63.4, 63.7, 122.2, 126.1,128.4, 133.7, 133.8, 135.2, 135.3, 142.1, 144.7, 145.3, 146.0, 149.5,150.3, 154.0; ¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 27.1.

F. Synthesis of 1MA-BP

Compound 11 (0.88 g, 1.6 mmol) was sonicated in DMF (100 mL), and theinsolubles were filtered off. Compound 9 (0.8 g, 2.0 mmol) was added tothe clear yellow filtrate, and the reaction was stirred at 70° C. for 72h. The resulting dark orange precipitate was collected bycentrifugation, washed with DMF, then acetone, and dried under a streamof argon to yield pure 1MA-BP (0.65 g, 44% yield).). ¹H NMR (CD₃OD, 500MHz) δ 1.83 (s, 6H), 3.16 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 3.61 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 2H),5.31 (s, 1H), 5.60 (s, 1H), 5.85 (s, 2H), 5.92 (s, 2H), 6.01 (s, 4H),7.84 (br s, 6H), 7.99 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 8.13 (t, J=7.25 Hz, 2H), 8.60(t, J=7.75 Hz, 1H), 8.69 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 4H), 8.99 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 9.16(d, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 9.37 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 4H); ¹³C NMR (D₂O, 125 MHz) δ18.98, 36.39, 40.06, 64.79, 65.45, 65.7, 122.3, 123.9, 127.7, 128.7,129.9, 130.2, 132.5, 134.2, 135.1, 136.6, 140.1, 144.9, 145.7, 146.9,147.5, 151.7, 172.9; ¹¹B NMR (80 MHz, D₂O) δ 23.9.

EXAMPLE 58 Synthesis of P2-3,3-OBBV

A. [3,3′] Bipyridinyl-5-carboxylic Acid Ethyl Ester Compound (46)

To a 50 mL oven-dried round-bottomed flask with a sidearm and condenser,was added ethyl-5-bromonicotinate (2.76 g, 12 mmol), 3-pyridineboronicacid (1.23 g, 10 mmol), and anhydrous 1,4-dioxane (25 mL) under argon. Adegassed aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃ (2 M, 10 mL) was then added viasyringe to the vigorously stirred reaction mixture, followed by theaddition of Pd(OAc)₂ (0.11 g, 0.5 mmol) and PPh₃ (0.65 g, 2.5 mmol). Thereaction flask was then degassed using 5 argon/vacuum back-fill cycles,then stirred for 3 h at 95° C. After cooling to ambient temperature,water was added (50 mL), and the reaction was extracted with ethylacetate (3×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine (2×100mL), dried with Na₂SO₄, and evaporated under reduced pressure. Theresidue was chromatographed on silica gel (pretreated with 10%triethylamine) using 10% ethyl acetate in dichloromethane to give 1.0 g(44% yield) of white solid. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 250 MHz) δ 1.39 (t, J=7.0 Hz,3H), 4.41 (q, J=7.25 Hz, 2H), 7.40 (dd, J=8.0, 4.75 Hz, 1H), 7.88 (dt,J=7.75, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 8.44 (t, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.64 (dd, J=4.75, 1.5 Hz,1H), 8.84 (d, J=2.25 Hz, 1H), 8.95 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 9.20 (d, J=1.75Hz, 1H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 125 MHz) δ 14.20, 61.63, 123.77, 126.41,131.88, 133.23, 134.42, 135.19, 148.09, 149.69, 150.07, 151.42, 164.85.

B. [3,3′] Bipyridinyl-5-carboxylic Acid Compound (47)

The dipyridyl ethyl ester compound (46) (0.75 g, 3.3 mmol) was dissolvedin a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) and HCl (7.5 M, 5 mL), andrefluxed for 16 h. The reaction was evaporated to a yellow solid, thensonicated in acetone and filtered to give the HCl salt of the titlecompound as a white solid 0.84 g (94% yield). ¹H NMR (DMSO-d₆, 250 MHz)δ 8.19 (dd, J=8.0, 6.0 Hz, 1H), 8.83 (t, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.99 (d, J=5.75Hz, 1H), 9.05 (d, J=8.5 Hz, 1H), 9.20 (d, J=1.75 Hz, 1H), 9.36 (d, J=2.0Hz, 1H), 9.46 (d, J=1.0 Hz, 1H); ¹³C NMR (DMSO-d₆, 62.5 MHz) δ 127.25,127.40, 130.45, 134.80, 137.06, 140.80, 141.42, 143.93, 149.56, 150.73,165.39.

C. 3,3′-Dipyridyl Diamide Compound (48)

The dipyridyl carboxylic acid compound (47) (0.83 g, 3 mmol) wassuspended in thionyl chloride (20 mL) and refluxed for 4 h. The reactionmixture was evaporated to dryness, resuspended in dichloromethane (20mL), and cooled to 0° C. A solution of N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamidehydrochloride (0.54 g, 3 mmol) and triethylamine (3 mL, 30 mmol) in DCM(20 mL) was then added dropwise. After stirring at ambient temperaturefor 16 h, KOH (3 M, 10 mL) was added. The mixture was diluted with moreDCM and water, and the aqueous layer was extracted with DCM (2×100 mL).The combined organics were washed with brine (2×100 mL), dried withNa₂SO₄, and evaporated to a yellow oil which was then chromatographed onsilica gel (pretreated with 10% triethylamine) using a 0-4% methanolgradient in dichloromethane to give 0.56 g (58% yield) of a white foam.¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 500 MHz) δ 1.79 (p, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 1.97 (s, 3H), 3.43 (q,J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 3.51 (q, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 5.35 (s, 1H), 5.77 (s, 1H), 6.78(br s, NH), 7.41 (dd, J=7.5, 5.0 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.26(br s, NH), 8.46 (s, 1H), 8.64 (d, J=4.0 Hz, 1H), 8.88 (s, 1H), 8.91 (s,1H), 9.14 (s, 1H); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃, 125 MHz) δ 18.73, 29.67, 36.36,36.40, 120.40, 123.99, 130.43, 132.86, 133.37, 133.67, 134.71, 139.62,147.93, 148.19, 149.67, 150.22, 165.60, 169.64.

D. P2-3,3′-oBBV

To a solution of compound (2.0 g, 6 mmols) 48 in DMF (25 mL), was addedo-monomethylphenylboronic acid (0.29 g, 1.36 mmol), and the reaction wasstirred at 55° C. for 72 h. After cooling to ambient temperature,acetone (500 mL) was added to the yellow solution to induceprecipitation. The white precipitate was collected by centrifugation,washed with acetone, and dried under a stream of argon to yield 3 g (67%yield) of product.

EXAMPLE 59 Hydrogel Synthesis and Glucose Response

A. Hydrogel Containing 1MABP and APTS-BuMA

In a 1 mL volumetric flask was added HEMA (354 mg, 2.45 mmol), PEG-DMA(mw=1000, 111 mg, 0.111 mmol), SPM (28 mg, 0.114), APTS-BuMA (0.2 mL ofa 0.01M solution, 0.002 mmol), 1MABP (0.021 g, 0.02 mmol), VA-044 (2.4mg, 0.0074 mmol). The mixture was polymerized at 40° C. for 24 hoursusing a mold and procedures similar to that described in Example 40. Theglucose response of the hydrogel film thus obtained was measured asdescribed in Example 4.

B. Hydrogel Containing P2-3,3-oBBV and APTS-DegMA

In a 1 mL volumetric flask was added HEMA (354 mg, 2.45 mmol), PEG-DMA(mw=1000, 111 mg, 0.111 mmol), SPM (28 mg, 0.114), APTS-DegMA (0.2 mL ofa 0.01M solution, 0.002 mmol), P2-3,3-oBBV (0.030 g, 0.04 mmol), VA-044(2.4 mg, 0.0074 mmol). The mixture was polymerized at 40° C. for 24hours using a mold and procedures similar to that described in Example40. The glucose response of the hydrogel film thus obtained was measuredas described in Example 4. The results are shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B.The glucose response is shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B.

EXAMPLE 60 Quantum Dot-Based Glucose Sensor

A sensing hydrogel is prepared in a manner similar to that described inExample 14 above, except the polymeric dye powder is replaced by aneffective amount of carboxylated quantum dots (“Fort Orange” CdSe coreshell QDs—from Evidenttech of Troy, N.Y. and the quencher monomer isreplaced by an equivalent amount of P3,3′-oBBV [see Example 53]. Thesensing hydrogel thus prepared shows an increase in fluorescenceemission monitored at 604 nm when contacted with a solution of 100 mg/dLglucose at pH=7.4 and excited at 462 nm.

While only a few embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it will become apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and changes can be made in a glucose sensorand its components including the fluorophore dye, quencher and optimalpolymer matrix for monitoring polyhydroxyl-containing organic analytes,primarily for in vitro or in vivo glucose monitoring, without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention. All suchmodifications and changes coming within the scope of the appended claimsare intended to be carried out thereby.

What is claimed is:
 1. An analyte sensor, comprising: a fluorophore dyecomprising a pyrene sulfonate selected from the structure:

wherein R¹, R², and R³ are each —NHR⁴, R⁴ is—CH₂—CH₂(—O—CH₂—CH₂)_(n)—X¹; wherein X¹ is —OH, OCH₃—CO₂H, —CONH₂,—SO₃H, or —NH₂; and n is between 70 and 10,000; and a quenchercomprising a viologen substituted with at least one boronic acid; asemi-permeable membrane.
 2. The analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein thefluorophore comprises at least one negative charge.
 3. The analytesensor of claim 1, wherein the fluorophore is a compound formed byreacting 8-acetoxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonylchloride with an amino acid.4. The analyte sensor of claim 3, wherein the amino acid is aminobutyric acid or lysine.
 5. The analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein thefluorophore is

wherein n is
 125. 6. The analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein the boronicacid substituted viologen further comprises an aromatic boronic acidmoiety.
 7. The analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein the quencher comprisesan aromatic boronic acid moiety covalently bonded to a polymer, whereinthe aromatic boronic acid moiety is selected from the group consistingof:

wherein X is bromide or chloride.
 8. The analyte sensor of claim 1,wherein the quencher comprises an aromatic boronic acid moietycovalently bonded to a polymer, wherein the aromatic boronic acid moietyis selected from the group consisting of:


9. The analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein the quencher comprises anaromatic boronic acid moiety covalently bonded to a polymer, wherein thearomatic boronic acid moiety has the structure:

where L is a hydrolytically stable covalent linking group selected fromthe group consisting of a direct bond, lower alkylene having 1 to 8carbon atoms optionally terminated with, or including, one or moredivalent connecting groups, wherein each divalent connecting group isindependently selected from the group consisting of sulfonamide, amide,ester, ether, sulfide, sulfone, phenylene, urethane, urea, and amine; Zis selected from the group consisting of (i) a polymerizableethylenically unsaturated group selected from the group consisting of—R¹⁰—CO₂—C(R₁₁)═CH₂, —R₁₀—NH—(C═O)—C(R₂)═CH₂, or —CH₂—C₆H₄—CH═CH₂, whereR¹⁰ is a lower alkylene or hydroxyalkylene of 2 to 6 carbon atoms andR¹¹ is hydrogen or methyl, (ii) a coupling group of formula —R¹²—Z³,where R¹² is —CH₂C₆H₄—or alkylene of 2 to 6carbon atoms, and where Z³ is—OH, —SH, —CO₂H, or —NH₂; (iii) 2-, 3- or 4-(CH₂═CH)-pyridinium;—N—(CH₂)_(w)—O(C═O)C(CH₃)═CH₂); —O—(CH₂)_(w), —O—CH₂—(CH═CH₂);—O—(CH₂)_(w)—O—(C═O)CH(═CH₂); or —O—(CH₂)_(w)—O—(C═O)C(CH₃)═CH₂; and(iv) —OH, —SH, —CO₂H, or —NH₂; wherein w is a integer from 2 to 6; R′ is—B(OH)₂; R″ is absent or is a coupling group of formula —R¹²—Z³, whereR¹² is —CH₂C₆H₄— or alkylene of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and where Z³ is—OH, —SH, —CO₂H, or —NH₂; and X is a halogen.
 10. The analyte sensor ofclaim 9, wherein the aromatic boronic acid moiety is selected from thegroup consisting of:


11. The analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein the analyte permeablecomponent comprises a polymer matrix.
 12. The analyte sensor of claim11, wherein the polymer matrix is a hydrogel.
 13. The analyte sensor ofclaim 1, wherein the analyte permeable component confines thefluorophore and the quencher.
 14. The analyte sensor of claim 13,wherein the fluorophore is bonded to the polymer matrix.
 15. The analytesensor of claim 1, wherein the analyte permeable component furthercomprises a biocompatible coating.
 16. The analyte sensor of claim 1,wherein the analyte is a polyhydroxyl-substituted organic molecule.